News & Releases

Request for Expressions of Interest

The Government of Vanuatu has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Telecommunications/ICT Technical Assistance Program, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consultant services. The services include the conduct of Telecommunications Mobile Signal & Internet Coverage Audit.

Details

TRR has revoked Three Telecommunications Licences for non-compliance

The Office of the Telecommunications and Radiocommunications Regulator (TRR) has, on 3rd June 2014, revoked three telecommunications licences which had been granted to Hotspotzz Ltd, Wavecom Ltd and Micoms Ltd. The basis for TRR’s revocation of these licences is non-compliance of the licence terms and conditions of all these licensees.

TRR was concerned that the three licensees have never provided any form of telecommunications services since attaining their licences in late 2009 and early 2010. Some of the obligations, inter alia, which the licensees have not complied with include non-payment of licence fees, the avoidance of applicability of  UAP provisions on them and, particularly, failure to provide any telecommunications services, and not have any future plans to do so; which is the primary purpose of holding and requiring a licence.

Four years after the passing of the TRR Act in 2009, TRR decided to conduct a review of its licence regime and to investigate the activities of all licensees; particularly those licensees that hold a licence but have not shown any utilization of the purpose of their licence to date. Those licensees were formally advised and cautioned by TRR on the 5th of May, about their need to provide TRR with their plans to offer a telecommunication service, and of their levy obligations under section 19 (6) (b) of the Act. In particular, the relevance of their need to retain a license should their current telecommunications zero net revenue status remains unchanged.

TRR provided the concerned licensees with ample time to respond to the revocation notices, and our request to submit plans of their intentions and relevance and need to retain their licences. In all cases, they failed to do so. The revocation orders means that these three licensees can no longer operate as telecommunications service providers and any attempt to do so will be deemed unlawful by TRR.

TRR also wishes to take this opportunity to remind all telecommunications licensees and interested parties to ensure that they comply with the terms and conditions of their licences, as well as with the legal obligations set out in the TRR Act 2009. The primary intention of possessing and need to hold a telecommunications licence is to provide telecommunications service and to observe the terms and conditions therein.  

TRR encourages interested and potential investors to apply for telecommunications licence and to participate in the development of the sector and the economy of Vanuatu at large.

Details

Extension to the UAP/ICT Programs application deadline

Telecommunications and Radiocommunications Regulator (TRR) is extending the submission deadline for the Universal Access initiated Information & Communications Technology(ICT) programs from Friday 20th of June 2014 to 18th of July 2014. The deadline has been extended due to feedback that applicants need more time to discuss, plan and complete their application forms; particularly those in rural and remote areas.


We sincerely thank those applicants who have provided their submissions on time. However, TRR acknowledges and recognizes the great disparity in services that exist within each of the six provinces of Vanuatu, which will disadvantage some potential schools, communities and businesses as applicants, from others. The overall core objective of the Universal Access Policy (UAP) initiative through these programs is geared towards provisioning of universal access to and rollout of, telecommunication services coverage to 98 percent of the population throughout Vanuatu.


For fairness, equity and balance, and to ensure that everyone is given a realistic and practical opportunity to apply, as well as ensure the Government’s UAP objective is met, TRR is seeking to obtain as many grant application submissions as possible, throughout the country. That is why we have decided to extend the submission deadline to 4:00 pm on Friday, the 18th of July 2014. All applications must get to TRR office before that final deadline. The extension will also provide an opportunity for those communities in the very remote areas, who are desperately in need of such service, but are not able to submit an application merely because of its short time frame deadline that has to be met.


Given the additional extension, TRR encourages that all interested schools, communities and businesses ensure that they thoroughly understand the criteria outlined in the application forms and contact TRR office if they require any support in filling the forms, or to seek any further information.

Details

Supreme Court dismisses Digicel (Vanuatu) Ltd Judicial Review claim against the Regulator

The Supreme Court of Vanuatu has struck out and delivered as “unarguable” case brought by Digicel against the Regulator, TRR.

In brief, Digicel filed a judicial review claim against TRR in 2011 alleging that TRR, inter alia, has no power to carry out any internal review of a prior internal review under section 52 of the Act. This happened after TRR, through the draft decision 02 of 2011, proposed to issue interconnection rates for fixed and mobile termination which based on cost, after TRR had conducted a cost study to find out what should be the appropriate and proper interconnection rates for Vanuatu. The proposed interconnection rates are much lesser than the benchmark rates determined in 2010. During the consultation of the draft decision with both Digicel and TVL, Digicel, however, filed the judicial review claim against the action of TRR.

The Supreme Court heard the submission in June 2012 under Rule 17.8 of the Civil Procedure Rule, to establish whether Digicel had an arguable case or otherwise prior hearing the claim. Two years later, the Court finally issued its judgment in favour of TRR. Justice Fatiaki, in dealing with each of the grounds raised by Digicel challenging TRR’s approach and draft decision, held that:

1.    The Regulator has the power to carry out any internal review of a prior internal review under Section 52 of the TRR Act.
2.    There is no reason for a review to be confined to the subject matter of a previous decision.
3.    The Regulator wasn’t bound to apply the ICA between TVL and Digicel because he was not a party to that agreement.
4.    The Regulator is not estopped by the ICA to apply his powers under the TRR Act.

The case is a landmark case for the telecom industry in Vanuatu and has shed light to the issues raised by Digicel against the Regulator.



Details

Consultation on Fixed Service Spectrum Band Planning in Vanuatu

The Telecommunications and Radiocommunications Regulator (TRR) has, today Friday 27 June 2014, released its Consultation Paper on Fixed Service Spectrum Band Planning in Vanuatu, for public comment. This Consultation Document has been developed to facilitate the planning and allocation of radiofrequency spectrum for fixed services in Vanuatu.

The Telecommunications and Radiocommunications Regulation Act 2009 mandates TRR to regulate the telecommunications sector and to manage the radio frequency spectrum, in order to promote national social and economic development.

Through the release of this Consultation Paper, TRR is initiating a public consultation process on the technical framework for the allocation of radio spectrum for fixed services in Vanuatu.  The paper presents options for planning, including suggested bands for fixed microwave systems, bands that should be set aside for the provision of ubiquitous satellite services, and bands that should be set aside for future mobile telephony and mobile broadband services.

The paper seeks and welcomes input from industry, carriers and vendors on the proposals put forward by TRR.  Questions are posed at appropriate points throughout the paper. These are suggestions, proposals and/or requests for feedback.  Industry is therefore invited and requested to provide feedback on any aspect of this paper and on issue they feel is important.

Download the Consultation Paper

Download the Public notice to Newspaper on Fixed Service Spectrum Band Planning in Vanuatu    

Details
  1. TRR releases its 2013 Annual Report
  2. Consultation on Consumer Protection Regulation
  3. Two Further TRR Licence Revocations
  4. TRR receives more than 300 Grant Application submissions
  5. Request for Expressions of Interest for a Short Term Contractor
  6. Further Consultation Paper on Proposed New Radio Apparatus Licence Fees and Procedures
  7. TRR Warns Against Hoax and Malicious calls to Emergency Numbers
  8. "Reaching The Rural Community Through Broadband Internet – Rensarie Experience” Documentary Film
  9. New Interconnection Agreement Between TVL and DIGICEL
  10. A new Dawn in Education - ICT enabler

Page 15 of 34

Public Register