RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE S/NGBT/W/3/Add.26
20July1995
ORGANIZATION(95-2064)
Original: English Negotiating Group onBasic Telecommunications
COMMUNICATION FROM SINGAPORE
Response toQuestionnaire onBasic Telecommunications
Thefollowing communication iscirculated attherequest ofSingapore tomembers ofthe
Negotiating Group onBasic Telecommunications.
_______________
PART I
Definition andMarket Structure
Definition
1. What areconsidered tobebasic telecommunications under yourregulatory regime? Howare
they defined? How does your regulatory regime define thatwhich isnotconsidered basic
telecommunications?
Basic telecommunications would bebasic public switched telephony voice, message, dataand
leased circuit services asopposed tovalue-added network services.
2. Does yourregulatory regime distinguish between networks (facilities) andservices indefining
basic telecommunications? Ifso,howisthisdistinction made?
No.
3. Arethereanynetworks orservices which would beconsidered tobebasictelecommunications
within thescope oftheGATS definition which would notbeconsidered byyournational definition?
Ifso,whatarethey?
No.
Market structure
4. Listanybasic telecommunications subsectors orcategories which arereserved tobesupplied
bymonopoly orexclusive supplier(s).
Singapore Telecom (ST), thepublic telecommunication licensee, hasmonopoly intheprovision
ofthefollowing basic services uptoApril 2007:
(i) Public switched telephone services;
(ii) public switched message services;S/NGBT/W/3/Add.26
Page2
(iii) leased circuit services;
(iv) public switched dataservices;
(v) public switched integrated digital network (ISDN) services; and
(vi) public radio communication services.
However, TAShasallowed resale ofPSTN andfromApril 2002, TAScanlicense otherservice
providerssuchasbroadcastingoperatorstoprovidethebasicservicesabove,providedtheseareincidental
andancillary totheirprincipal businesses.
5. Doesyourregime designate oneoralimited number ofmonopoly/exclusive suppliers tosupply
anybasic telecommunications nationally, onageographical basis, orforparticular market segments?
Howisit(orthey)constituted(e.g.governmentministryoragency,whollygovernmentownedcorporate
entity, company partly owned bythegovernment, privately owned)?
6. Isforeign equity participation orownership ofmonopoly orexclusive suppliers permitted?
Ifso,whatisthemaximum percentage share allowed andwhatisthecurrent levelofidentifiable foreign
participation?
SThasthemonopoly toprovide tothepublic thebasic services listed in4above. STisa
publicly listed company ontheSingapore Stock Exchange. TheSingapore Government holds about
90percentofshareholding with10percentheldbytheshareholding public inSingapore andforeign
institutional investors. Themaximum foreign shareholding allowed forSTis40percent. Thecurrent
levelofforeign participation is1.89percent.
7. Ifyourregime isgenerally characterized asnotpermitting competition, please indicate:
(a) Ifcertain activities orcategories ofwhatcould beconsidered basictelecommunications
arenotreserved tothemonopoly, e.g.facsimile, telex, datatransmission, mobile,
satellite services;
(b) arethereanyothermeans through which foreign suppliers ofbasictelecommunications
are/or mayparticipate inthesupply ofbasic telecommunications, e.g.,sub-contract
orbuild-operate transfer arrangements withthemonopoly suppliers.
(a) SeePartIIA(i);
(b) SThasanopenprocurement policy andallnetwork system/equipment suppliers may
participate inST'sopentenders forsystem/equipment procurement. Thecustomer
premises equipment isfullyliberalized.
8. Please listandbriefly describe anyintergovernmental agreements, bilateral orotherwise that
yourgovernment hasentered intorelating tothesupply ofbasic telecommunications networks and
services.
Singapore isasignatory toITUandamember ofIntelsat andInmarsat.S/NGBT/W/3/Add.26
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PART II
Competition
Forthesubsector andcategory headings inSections AandB,thefivequestions listed below
should beaddressed foreachsubsector andcategory thatyoudescribe. Recognising thatsubsectors
andcategories mayoverlap, please keepinmind thatitistheintroduction ofcompetition andtheway
ithasbeenintroduced thatshould determine howtoselect which subsectors andcategories covered
inyourresponses.
A. Subsectors
Foranysubsector inwhich competition ispermitted (i.e.,which arenotreserved tomonopoly
orexclusive suppliers) answer questions (i)through (v)above, asapplicable.
(i) Overview
What arethemain government policies andregulations regarding thecompetition inthis
subsector orcategory?
Subsectors (a)to(g)listed inthequestionnaire (i.e., voice telephone services, packet- and
circuit-switched datatransmission services, telexservices, telegraph services, facsimile services
andprivate leased circuit services) areST'smonopoly services until April 2007. For
subsector (o)(i.e.other services), thefollowing services areopentocompetition:
(1) Public videotex service;
(2) public switched video services;
(3) public cordless telephone services;
(4) shared/trunked repeater services;
(5) carriage ofsigns/signals usedintheprovision ofTVandsound broadcast services,
including satellite uplink anddownlink forbroadcasting purposes;
(6) publicmobiledataandvehiclelocationservicesincludingDifferentialGlobalPositioning
System (DGPS);
(7) self-provisioning oftelecommunication services viaVSAT forintracorporate
communications.
Anadditional public cellular mobile telephone services (PCMTS) operator andthreenewpublic
radio paging services (PRPS) operators werelicensed inJune1995 tocompete withSTfrom
April 1997. However, asmentioned inPartI,No.4,TAShasallowed resale ofPSTN and
fromApril 2002, TAScanlicense other service providers suchasthebroadcasting operators
toprovide theservices exclusive toST,provided these areincidental andancillary totheir
principal businesses. Ingeneral, foreign suppliers mayparticipate inthesupply oftheservices
numbered 1to6,subject toamaximum shareholding of49percentexcept forVSAT which
isstrictly forintracorporate communications purposes.S/NGBT/W/3/Add.26
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(ii) Modes ofsupply
Inyour view, howdotheGATS modes ofsupply (cross-border, consumption abroad,
commercial presence, andpresence ofnatural persons) apply tothissubsector orcategory?
What kinds ofrequirements, conditions, orlimitations areapplied inthissubsector orcategory
which relate toeachmode ofsupply?
Theservice providers shallhavecommercial presence inSingapore andberegistered withthe
Registry ofCompanies andBusinesses inSingapore. There isnorestriction onconsumption
aboard. Presence ofnatural persons isunbound except asindicated inthehorizontal section.
(iii) Market access
What kindoflimitations onmarket access areapplied? (i.e.Arethere anyquantitative
limitations on,oreconomic needs testsapplied to,thenumber ofsuppliers? Arethere any
limits onthetotalvalue oftransactions, totalnumber ofoperations, quantity ofoutput, orthe
totalnumberofpersonsthatmaysupplybasictelecommunicationsorbeemployedbyasupplier?
Arethere anyrestrictions orrequirement regarding typeoflegalentity thatmaysupply basic
telecommunications? Arethere anylimits onforeign ownership orequity participation?)
Provision ofservices issubject tolicensing byTAS(seeitem(v)below). Foreign ownership
isrestricted to49percent.
(iv) National treatment
What kindoflimitations onnational treatment areinplace extending toforeign suppliers
treatment lessfavourable thanthatfordomestic suppliers? (e.g.Arepreferences given to
domestic suppliers orrestrictions orobligations imposed onforeign suppliers withrespect to
anyprocedures orregulations, including licensing? Arethereanylimitations onthenationality
orresidency ofmanagers, directors, orboard members? Arethereanyrestrictions onforeign
ownership oflandorfacilities?)
None.
(v) Licensing
Iflicensing isrequired inthissubsector orcategory, briefly describe theprocedures concerned
andexplain themain requirements, criteria andfeesapplied. What aresome oftheprincipal
terms andconditions onlicensees, oncealicence isobtained?
Thegeneral licensing procedures, main requirements, criteria andfees,terms andconditions
onlicensees fortheservices 1to3(i.e.public videotex service; public switched video services;
andpublic cordless telephone services) arenotyetdefined asTAShasnotlicensed additional
service providers. Forservices 4(i.e.shared/trunk repeater services), TASisnowworking
onthelicensing issues.
Ingeneral, newlicensees willbeselected from apublic tender exercise. Besides meeting
technical andotheroperational requirements suchastypeapproval, interconnection andaccess,
non-interface especially forradio-based network operations, TASwillimpose price control
andquality ofservice (QOS) standards conditions onsuchlicensees toensure thatthere isnot
trade-off between priceandQOSbylicensees. Thishasbeenthecaseforthenewpublic mobile
dataandvehicle location services licensee andthenewPCMTS andPRPS operators. For
services 5(i.e.satellite uplink anddownlink services forbroadcasting purposes), andtheDGPS
services, anyinterested party canapply foralicence iftheymeetthetechnical andoperationalS/NGBT/W/3/Add.26
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requirements. Ingeneral, thelicence feespayable arebased onmarket valuation oftheeconomic
value ofthelicences.
B. Categories
Foreachofthecategories thatfollow inwhich competition ispermitted, answer questions (i)
through (v)above, asapplicable, aswellasthespecific questions listed under agiven category.
Local/long distance/international
1. How arelocalanddomestic long-distance distinguished ordefined?
Asacity-state, domestic long-distance service isnotrelevant inSingapore.
2. Arethere anyregulatory orother distinctions between domestic (local andlong-distance) and
international networks andservices andbetween thesuppliers ofbasic telecommunications inthese
market segments? Ifso,whatarethey?
No.
Resale basis
3. Doyourregulations permit international resale ofprivate leased circuit capacity ifconnected
tothepublic network. Ifso,atoneend,atbothends, under whatconditions? Isresale ofswitched
voice capacity permitted?
4. Isresale ofprivate leased circuit excess capacity permitted? Ifsounder what conditions?
Maybasic telecommunications beresold tomake them available tothird parties? Forwhich basic
telecommunications isthispermitted?
International resale orresale ofexcess capacity ofprivate leased circuits isnotallowed. While
TAShasaresale policy forswitched voice capacity, inessence, thisismeant toallow alicensed service
provider tobuytelecommunication capacity from thenetwork operator inorder toprovide arange
ofpublic switched telecommunications services which areseparate anddistinct from VAN services.
However, resellers would notbeallowed tobuild anyinfrastructure; theywillalsonotbeallowed
touseorinterconnect withanyleased circuits. Thefirstphase ofthisresale policy effective
December 1994 wasapplied tohotels andservice apartments fortheir provision ofdomestic and
international telephone services totheirguests.
Facilities-based
5. Maybasic telecommunications suppliers (foreign anddomestic) construct andoperate their
ownnetworks orinvest inconsortia toconstruct andoperate suchfacilities? Ifnot,whatorganizations
arepermitted toconstruct andoperate basic telecommunications network infrastructures?
No.However, organizations whocanjustify theneedtooperate theirownprivate networks,
taking intoaccount circumstances where thepublic operators cannot meettheiroperational requirements,
maybelicensed byTAStoinstall andoperate theirownnetworks, forinstance, thePortofSingapore
Authority operates itsownprivate radiocommunication network tocomplement itsportactivities.S/NGBT/W/3/Add.26
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Public/non-public supply
6. Doesyourregime make distinctions between suppliers ofpublic switched andnon-public based
telecommunications? Ifso,how?
No.Botharesubject tolicensing.
7. What basictelecommunications doyourregulations require, explicitly orineffect, tobemade
available tothepublic generally?
TheTASAct1992states thatitshallbethefunction anddutyofTAStosecure thatthere are
providedthroughoutSingaporegoodandsufficientdomesticandinternationaltelecommunicationservices.
8. What basictelecommunications doyourregulations permit tobesupplied onanon-public basis
(i.e.notrequired tobemade available tothepublic generally)?
SeeB.5above.
9. What obligations orresponsibilities areincurred bystatus asapublic basictelecommunications
supplier andunder whatconditions? E.g.whatkinds of"common carrier" likeobligations areimposed
(e.g.withregard touniversal service), andonwhom?
ST,thepublic telecommunication licensee, hasthefollowing keyobligations under itslicence:
(a) Obligation toprovide universal services;
(b) obligation toprovide emergency services;
(c) international obligations ofthegovernment where relevant;
(d) noundue discrimination intheprovision ofservices;
(e) obligation toallow access andinterconnection toitssystems forother licensees; and
(f) obligation tocomply withTAS'sprice control andservice quality arrangements.
10. What, ifany, restrictions arethere onorganizing andoffering aprivate network bya
telecommunications supplier?
None aslongastheend-user obtains theappropriate licensing orapproval from TAS.
11. Istheoperation ofpublic payphones reserved tomonopoly orexclusive suppliers?
Theoperation ofpublic payphones isliberalized totheextent thatpremises owners canchoose
toinstall andoperate theirownpublic payphones. Chain public payphone operations arehowever
notallowed atpresent.S/NGBT/W/3/Add.26
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PART III
Regulatory Issues
InrespondingtothequestionsinthisSection,participantsareaskedtoprovidespecificreferences
tothesource orstatus ofthemeasures concerned (e.g., where possible, acitation ofthelaw,regulation,
rule,guideline, decision ordecree).
Relationship between regulatory andoperational functions
1. Doanybasictelecommunications suppliers become involved, directly orindirectly, inmaking
regulatory policy, enforcement ofregulations, informulating standards orenforcing standards?
No,butTASadopts aconsultative approach initsreview ofpolicy andtheinputs ofsuppliers
andother players inthemarket, including end-users areregularly sought. TASalsoworks closely
withtheresearch anddevelopment organizations andhigher institutions oflearning ontype-approval
andstandards.
2. Isyourregulatory authority (orauthorities) alsoresponsible forformulating standards, for
enforcing standards?
Yes.
3. Howmany levels ofgovernment (e.g.national, regional, state, local) haveresponsibility for
regulationaffectingbasictelecommunications?Pleaseidentifyanddescriberelevantlevelsofgovernment
authority. Arethereanyprocedures enabling suppliers toresolve questions ordisputes theymayhave
ortoappeal adecision withtheregulatory body concerned? Ifso,please describe.
TASisthenational regulatory authority fortelecommunications andposts under theMinistry
ofCommunications. Under theTASAct1992, suppliers maymake representations toTASoncertain
decisions ofTAS, forexample, intheareas ofmodification oflicence conditions or
suspension/cancellation oflicence andmake afinalappeal totheMinister forCommunications whose
decisions shallbefinal.
Frequency allotment orassignment
4. What aretheprocedures, requirements andcriteria applied fortheallotment orassignment
ofradio frequencies?
Allfrequency applications mustjustify theneedforradiocommunications fortheiroperations
andsatisfy minimum loading criteria forthefrequency assignment. Theapplicable regulation and
licensing feesaresetoutintheRadiocommunications Regulations, 1994.
5. Doforeign telecommunications suppliers receive national treatment under these procedures
andcriteria.
Alltelecommunications suppliers andradiocommunications users receive thesame treatment.
Numbering andidentification codes
6. What aretheprocedures, requirements, andcriteria usedtoassign numbering andidentification
codes?S/NGBT/W/3/Add.26
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7. Doforeign telecommunications suppliers receive national treatment under these procedures
andcriteria?
TAS isresponsible forthenational numbering planning andadministration, including the
designation ofnumber levels. Suppliers arehowever freetoallocate numbers afterallocation from
TASbased ontheiroperational requirements. Thebasicguiding principles aretoensure thatthescarce
numbering resource iseffectively utilized andallsuppliers aretreated fairly andequitably sothat
competition canbeonalevelplaying fieldinthisrespect.
Standards, typeapproval andequipment attachment
8. What types ofmandatory standards areinplace?
Mandatory standards areinforceforcustomer equipment tobeusedforconnection tothepublic
telecommunication networks orforradiocommunication. These include standards forsafety and
user-network connection.
9. When astandard isunder review oranewstandard isbeing developed byyourstandards
authority, isthereanopportunity forpublic review andcomment priortoitsadoption? Mayforeigners
participate inthisprocess? Maytheprivate sector participate inthedevelopment ofstandards? If
so,how?
StandardsAdvisoryCommitteeshavebeenestablishedtoassistandgiveadviceonthepreparation
andadoptionoftelecommunicationstandards.Membershipofthecommitteesconsistsofrepresentatives
ofmanufacturers, equipment suppliers, service providers, academic institutions, consultants, standards
andpublic sector organizations. Foreigners mayparticipate through therespective organizations.
10. What equipment issubject totypeapproval? Isself-certification allowed? Hasyourgovernment
concluded mutual recognition agreements fortelecommunications equipment certification? Arethey
required forforeign produced equipment?
Bothlocally andforeign produced customer equipment, intended forconnection tothepublic
telecommunication networks orforradiocommunication, aresubject totypeapproval. Type approval
isbased onthemanufacturer 'sself-certification ofconformity andalsoonverification checks conducted
intheapproval authority 'slaboratory.
TheGovernment hasnotconcluded anymutual recognition agreements fortelecommunication
equipment certification.
11. Howistheability toattached terminal equipment tothenetwork regulated? What restrictions,
arethere onterminal equipment thatmaybeattached tothenetwork?
Allterminalequipmentconnectedtoorintendedtobeconnectedtothepublictelecommunication
networks must betype-approved bytheapproval authority.
12. Maybasictelecommunicationssuppliersconnectedtothepublicnetworkusetheirownswitches?
Yes. Telecommunications service suppliers mayusetheirownswitches.
13. Does thegovernment require network based suppliers topermit theattachment of
customer-supplied terminal equipment?S/NGBT/W/3/Add.26
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Yes. Network-based suppliers arerequired topermit theattachment oftypeapproved
customer-supplied terminal equipment.
Interconnection
14. Ingeneral, howisinterconnection regulated inyourregime? What aretheregulations applied?
Toprepare themobile communications market forimpending competition from April 1997,
TAShasset,forthree years, theinterconnection charges, determined onacost-basis, forthenew
PCMTS operator 'sinterconnection withST. Thereafter, thenewoperator willbeexpected to
commercially negotiate theinterconnection agreement withSTsubject toarbitration byTASshould
theparties failtoreach agreement. TAS'sdecision isfinal. Thedetails oftheinterconnection
agreements willnotbedocuments inthepublic domain.
15. Doyourregulations require network-based suppliers toprovide interconnection forother basic
telecommunications network orservices? Ifso,please describe?
Allnetwork operators arerequired toallow interconnection andaccess atterms andconditions
tobecommerciallynegotiatedbetweenthem.TASwillonlyarbitrateifnoagreementisreachedbetween
thenetwork operators. TAS'sdecision isfinalinsuchcases.
16. Isinterconnection between leased circuits andpublic datanetworks permitted?
Leased circuit isusedasoneformofaccess forconnecting thepublic datanetwork subscriber
topublic datanetwork.
17. What aretherulesandregulations regarding thepricing ofinterconnection? Areinterconnection
charges setinrelation toanyprinciples (e.g. cost-orientated)? Isthere arequirement tosubmit
interconnection charges toaregulatory body forapproval? Arethese charges inthepublic domain?
Arethesame interconnection charges applied toallsuppliers requesting interconnection orarethey
negotiated onacase-by-case basis? What requirements orobligations existtopublish, make publicly
available, ortosupply detail ofinterconnection agreements toregulatory authorities?
SeeResponse to14above.
Competitive safeguards
18. Whatkindsofsafeguardsdoesyourregimehaveagainstanti-competitivepracticesofmonopolies
ordominant suppliers insituations where theymaycompete withother firms tosupply certain basic
telecommunications inthedomestic market orintheinternational market?
TASimposes licensing terms andconditions suchasprice control arrangements, noundue
discrimination treatment, accounting separation requirements andauditing byexternal parties toensure
thatthedominant orincumbent supplier doesnotengage inanti-competitive practices andactivities.
19. Doyourregulations distinguish between dominant andnon-dominant suppliers? Ifso,what
arethedetails andhoware"dominant" and"non-dominant" defined?
No.TASregulations treatallsuppliers onafairandequitable basis.S/NGBT/W/3/Add.26
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20. Isthereanindustry-wideantitrustpolicyand/oranytelecommunications-specificantitrustpolicy?
What aretherules andregulations regarding mergers andacquisitions?
None.
21. Arethere anysafeguards concerning basic telecommunication suppliers alsoengaged inthe
manufacturing oftelecommunications equipment? Ifso,please describe thecontent andworking of
these safeguards.
Singapore doesnothaveanylocalorhomegrown telecommunication equipment manufacturing
industry.
Price-related measures
22. What istheroleofgovernment oranyrelated agency withregard toestablishing prices
(e.g.tariffs, access charges, accounting rates) orpricing policy? E.g., doesthegovernment setprices
oraccounting rates, directly orindirectly (e.g. price capsorrateofreturn controls), ordobasic
telecommunications suppliers determine thesethemselves? What requirements orobligations doesthe
government setregarding prices charged bymonopoly/dominant suppliers? Orother suppliers?
TAS'smain objective withregard toestablishing aprice policy istoprotect public interest
andtosupport ourcorporate objective ofpromoting Singapore asaglobal communications hub. Our
roleistoensure thattariffs setbyST,amonopoly supplier ofbasic telecommunication services, are
competitive bycomparing ourtariffs withthose ofmajor financial centres, NIEs andneighbouring
countries. Theinternational tariffcomparison approach, rather thanthepricecapapproach, isadopted
forregulating telecommunication services toensure that:
(i) fortheconsumers, Singapore 'stariffs areamongst thelowest inworld; and
(ii) fortheoperators, theframework isrelevant toourlocalcontext andwould notstifle
theoperator 'sincentive toimprove theirservice and/or reduce theirtariff rates.
23. Does theGovernment require tariffapproval ornotification andifso,whataretheprocedures?
What requirements regarding costaccounting areputinplace toensure transparency?
Under theprice control regulatory framework, allservices regarded asvitalinpromoting the
industry, infrastructure andbusinesses would besubject toregulatory pricecontrol onaquarterly basis.
Inaddition, anyproposed change intariffs orscheme ofanyexisting service willhavetobefiledwith
TASprior toimplementation. Anyproposed tariff fornewservices willalsohavetobefiledwith
TAS.
TAS requires ST,themonopoly supplier ofbasic telecommunication services, toapply
inter-departmental costaccounting separation toensure thatthere isnocross-subsidization between
competitiveandnon-competitiveservices.ThesecostfigureswouldalsobeusedtoensurethatSingapore
Telecom doesnotabuse theirmonopolistic power bypractising discriminatory pricing insetting tariffs
fortelecommunication services.
24. Towhatextent istheprinciple ofnon-discrimination applied inpricing policy? E.g., isatariff
package suchasavolume discount targeted foraspecific group allowed and,ifso,whataretheterms
andconditions applied? Ifaccounting ratesapplied indifferent agreements arenotthesame, what
arethecriteria usedtoarrive atdifferent accounting rates? Aresome ofthese criteria required or
defined bytheGovernment?S/NGBT/W/3/Add.26
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Thetelecommunication pricing policy inSingapore isnon-discriminatory, i.e.nodiscrimination
against anyspecific groups isallowed.
Accounting ratesarecommercially negotiated between international carriers onabilateral basis.
TASdoesnotdefine theprinciples ofaccounting ratenegotiations, asthese aregenerally based on
ST'scommercial dealings withother international carriers.
25. Doanybasic telecommunications suppliers getinvolved insetting industry-wide tariffs?
Theindustry-wide tariffs forbasic telecommunication services aresetbyST,themonopoly
supplier, subject toapproval byTAS, thenational regulator fortelecommunication andpost.
26. Onwhatbasisareprices (tariffs, access charges, accounting rates) determined? What concepts
areapplied regarding costs? Isthere ageneral principle applied regarding allocation ofcosts? Is
cost-oriented pricing ofbasictelecommunications usedorrequired bythegovernment? Ifnot,dobasic
telecommunications suppliers usecost-oriented pricing?
Thebasis foranalysing tariffs setbyST,amonopoly supplier ofbasic telecommunication
services,istocompareourtariffswiththoseofmajorfinancialcentres,NIEsandneighbouringcountries.
Thisapproach isusedtoensure thatSingapore 'stariffs areamongst thelowest intheworld.
Cost-oriented pricing forbasic telecommunications isanissueconsidered bySTwhen setting
prices. TAS'sguiding principle forcostallocation istoensure thatthere isnocross-subsidization
between competitive andnon-competitive services andthatSTdoesnotabuse theirmonopolistic power
bypractising discriminatory and/or predatory pricing.
27. Arethere anyrules specific tothepricing ofanewservice?
Anyproposed tariff fornewservices willhavetobefiledwithTAS. STwillnotbeallowed
toimplement thenewtariff without thewritten approval ofTAS.
Rights ofwayfortheconstruction ofinfrastructure
28. Arebasic telecommunications services suppliers permitted tobuild theirowninfrastructure
orfacilities? Ifso,what aretheprocedures andcriteria forauthorization tobuild infrastructure or
facilities? What aretheprocedures, criteria, limitations orqualifications applied withrespect tothe
granting ofortheavailability ofrights ofwayfortheconstruction ofinfrastructure orfacilities?
Yes. Under theTAS Act1992, provision hasbeen made tofacilitate thepublic
telecommunicationlicensee'sinstallationofinfrastructureincludingthepowertoenterlandforinstallation
purposes andinspection, maintenance andrepair oftheinstallation butsubject tothelicensee paying
compensation foranydamage caused.
29. Isnational treatment extended toforeign basic telecommunications suppliers under these
procedures andcriteria?
Notapplicable.
Newtelecommunication services
30. Please describe anygeneral regulatory processes orprocedures thatapply todealing withthe
introduction of"new" telecommunications services. Prior toanyrelevant regulatory procedure having
beencompleted, isitnotpossible forsuchnewservices tobesupplied?S/NGBT/W/3/Add.26
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Theoffering ofanynewtelecommunication services byexisting service providers ortheoffering
ofexisting telecommunication services bynewservice providers, iftheservices havealready been
liberalised, must belicensed prior tocommercial service launching oroffering. Anynewservices
mayofcourse beoffered onatrialbasisbutatnocosttoend-users prior toformal licensing byTAS.
31. When anewservice becomes possible oravailable, whodetermines thestatus ofthenewservice
(whether itisbasic orvalue-added) andunder whatprocedure andtimeframe?
TASasthenational telecommunication authority determines whether aservice isvalue added
orbasic. Thisisanadministrative review procedure within TASandingeneral, should nottakemore
thanthree months.