| The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is investigating allowing small licensees an alternative to cost-based interconnection charges, in order to improve their competitiveness against dominant operators.
Sudharma Yoonaidharma of the NTC said the regulator would define which licensees are dominant and which are considered smaller companies. He said the larger operators would be forced to calculate interconnection charges using a cost-based formula, while smaller licensees could base the rate on other factors that would provide a more level playing field.
The NTC’s draft regulations concerning interconnection currently state that all licensees must use cost-based interconnection fees. The draft also requires all telecommunications operators to share voice and data revenue between the two networks.
NTC subpanels are being set up to determine interconnection points and oversee the interconnection of each network. The regulator will also create a body to deal with interconnection disputes.
True Move and Total Access Communication have said they would stop paying the access charge to TOT and pay the interconnection fee only, in order to avoid incurring a double cost. All private mobile concessionaires of CAT Telecom currently pay an access charge to TOT for connecting them to other networks.
Source: The Nation - WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News |