News & Releases

Allocation of 700 MHz BAND Expression of Interest

The Office of the Telecommunications Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator (TRBR) seeks expressions of interest from parties who wish to have spectrum in the 700 MHz band assigned to them. The terms and conditions for the allocation of this spectrum, and the process to be followed, are set out in the below paper.

All responses to this Request for Expressions of Interest must be delivered to TRBR by 4:30 pm on 30 November 2015.

Details

2nd round consultation paper on management of .vu country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD)

Telecommunications Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator (TRBR) has released its 2nd round consultation paper for public consultation to discuss and consider the intended future arrangement and management of .vu country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD).

TRBR has already consulted on the matter of .vu ccTLD management in October 2012. Very limited feedback was received at that time, and TRBR adjudged that the submissions were insufficient to support the implementation of any major ccTLD management changes.

TRBR has therefore developed a comprehensive draft regulation setting out the roles and responsibilities of the various participants in the domain management process in the future, and of the rules that shall generally apply.

Details

Official lauching of the UAP schools project

The UAP programs were announced during 2014 as part of an initiative between Telecommunications Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator (TRBR), OGCIO, Ministry of Education and Training and the Australian Government under its Governance for Growth (GfG) program. The programs developed were:

•    Computer Laboratories and Internet Community Centre (CLICC)
•    Tablets for Students (TFS)
•    Internet Community Services (ICS)
The CLICC centres are a significant part of the UAP program with 15 schools, being provided with computer labs, for general educational purposes and for use by the community during or after school hours.

On the 27th of November 2015, the Government of Vanuatu officially launched the CLICC program with an opening of the CLICC infrastructure at Sarakata Centre School, Luganville, Espiritu Santo.  The launch was presided over by the Honorable Daniel Toara, the Minister responsible for Education and Training and was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Education and Training, Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, Australian High Commission and TRBR. The first CLICC site to be implemented was Eles Centre School, Nguna Island, Efate. The school went live in late October, with a formal opening held on the 24th of November 2015 attended by representatives from the Ministry of Education and Training, Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, Australian High Commission and TRBR. Since the opening and access by students, the feedback has been exceptionally positive, with a desire of the students to use the technology.  Current programs being worked on include learning to touch type, using an application on the installed gateway server.

TRBR has provided three (3) grants to commercial operators to establish an Information and Communication Centre (ICS) in the local community.  It was with pleasure that the TRBR were able to attend the official opening of the Ituani Informesen & Communikesen Senta in Arunamalai Village on Malo Island on Monday 30th November 2015, the first ICS to open and commence operations.

The Tablets for Students (TFS) program is gradually being rolled out to the selected schools.  Currently TFS infrastructure has been implemented in Lycee LAB, Epi High School and Ambaebulu School. The remainder of the TFS infrastructure will be rolled out prior to the commencement of the school year 2016.

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TRBR's 2016 and onwards plan

Telecommunications Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator (TRBR) has developed its 2016 and onwards Work Plan.  It clearly outlines our priority projects, and lesser priority (but important) projects, as well as TRBR goals and objectives.

TRBR recognizes the need to keep all appropriate parties informed of its Work Plan activity, and we will regularly and actively monitor TRBR priorities, projects and tasks. This Work Plan has a forward looking focus. It is updated annually to indicate current and future work that TRBR is undertaking and has a focus on, or will be undertaking in the near future.

Details

TRBR releases UAP Stakeholders Update Report No.4

This Fourth Universal Access Policy (UAP) Update Report is intended to update stakeholders on the progress made in Telecommunications Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator's (TRBR) implementation of the Government’s UAP up to December 2015. It builds on the TRBR’s Third UAP Update Report of July 2015.

TRBR recognizes and acknowledges the commitment of the Players and industry at large for the achievements presented through this Report. The significant milestones achieved over the last six months by the industry have enabled TRBR, and the Government, to make some very important additional and progressive steps towards meeting the UAP objectives.

TRBR has taken a considerable proactive and guiding approach to the implementation of the UAP through the upgrading and rollout of new services, and the provisioning and deployment of equipment and materials for the UAP ICT School and internet community centre programs.

TRBR is pleased to confirm that, based on the latest and current UAP deployment plans of the Players and TRBR’s estimated existing mobile coverage, the population coverage rollout that is now expected to reach, and should potentially exceed, the overall UAP target of 98%. TRBR will commence a mobile coverage audit of the current coverage early next year to establish the current base coverage from which we will be able to determine the actual new coverage provided by the UAP Undertaking rollout.

A formal launch of the UAP ICT School and internet community centre program was undertaken on the 27th November 2015 by the Minister for Education and Training at Sarakata Centre School Luganville. The first ICS, iTuani Informesen & Communikesen Senta in Avunamalai Village Malo Island was also opened on the 30th November 2015.
TRBR remains committed to its methodology and approach to achieving the UAP objectives by working cooperatively and constructively with the operators, stakeholders and other relevant parties, and will continue to keep the Government fully informed of all developments.

TRBR will develop regular UAP Update Reports at similar intervals to keep stakeholders fully aware of Key UAP developments and progress.

Details
  1. IMPORTANT: Outstanding fees and 2016 Radio apparatus licence renewal
  2. Consultation Paper on Radio Spectrum Fees in Vanuatu
  3. 2014 Statistics
  4. 2015 Annual Report
  5. 2015 Statistics
  6. Vanuatu Girls in ICT Celebration 28th April 2016
  7. New Interconnection Agreement Between TVL and DIGICEL 2016 - 2018
  8. TRBR consumer survey
  9. TRBR releases UAP Stakeholders Update Report No.5
  10. Order 3 of 2016 Gazetted

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