Page 129 - SAMENA Trends - April-May 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

UK Aims to Take Rural Areas Out of Digital Dark Age

The UK government outlined plans to wipe not require as many masts to “take full villages and towns out of the digital
out mobile signal blindspots in rural areas advantage of 5G-connected technology”. dark ages.” In a separate statement,
and the road network, as part of reforms On roads, the government aims to improve Bjorn Odenhammer, CTO Networks and
to improve connectivity and speed rollout mobile coverage by allowing building- Managed Services at Ericsson UK and
of 5G technology. In a statement, the based masts to be placed near highways. Ireland, welcomed the announcement,
government said it was proposing law Digital secretary Oliver Dowden said: stating the proposals were “practical,
changes which would remove one of the “Today we are setting out plans to make targeted measures that could spur much
“biggest barriers” to better connectivity it easier for mobile firms to transform quicker rollout of mobile coverage in these
in such areas, by reducing build time connectivity in the countryside and propel historically under-served areas”.
and costs for new infrastructure, “while
protecting rural areas by minimizing any
visual impact”. Under the plans, mobile
operators will be allowed to construct
new and existing masts up to 5 meters
taller and 2 meters wider than currently
permitted. The range of masts will,
therefore increase, allowing them to fit
more equipment so coverage can be
equally shared. The proposed change adds
to a government drive to deliver a £1 billion
Shared Rural Network, aimed at ensuring
all areas of the country can access 4G. The
government believes the latest plans will
provide incentives for mobile companies
to improving existing masts over building
new ones, while rural communities will

Korea Aims to Foster 5G Competition Via MVNOs

South Korea’s ICT Ministry said it aims will foster competition in the 5G market, April 2019, and 5G networks are available
to boost competition in the domestic 5G which is dominated by these three carriers. mostly in large cities. SK Telecom, KT
market through the release of affordable As of February, 5G subscriptions to MVNOs and LG Uplus are currently preparing to
mobile data plans from mobile virtual stood at around 7,000. The total number commercialize new technology, such as
network operators (MVNOs), local news of MVNO users in Korea reached 9.27 Standalone versions of the 5G networks
agency Yonhap reported. According to the million in February, of which 6.6 million and millimeter-wave 5G. Despite the rapid
report, the country’s ICT ministry said that were subscribed to 4G networks. South progress in 5G deployments, subscribers
a total of 10 MVNOs in Korea, including Korea ended February with 13.66 million have been criticizing the poor quality of
Sejong Telecom, will release new 5G plans subscribers in the 5G segment after a net 5G services. Nearly 1,000 5G smartphone
starting this month that provide up to 30 addition of 792,118 subscribers during the users in South Korea recently expressed
gigabytes of data for around 40,000 won month, according to the latest available interest in taking legal action against the
($35). The report stated that the country’s data from the Ministry of Science and ICT. country’s three major telecom operators
three main telecom operators — SK SK Telecom had the largest number of 5G due to the alleged poor quality of the
Telecom Co., KT Corp. and LG Uplus Corp. subscribers at 6.35 million, followed by service. The group plans to file a class
— do not currently offer plans at a similar KT at 4.16 million and LG Uplus at 3.15 action lawsuit in May after adding more
price for the same amount of data. The million. South Korean telecom operators customers to the complaint. The group
ICT ministry had previously implemented currently provide 5G services via non- is seeking at least KRW1 million ($885)
changes in administrative rules so that standalone 5G networks, which depend on in compensation per subscriber from the
MVNOs can independently offer 5G data previous 4G LTE networks. The country’s three mobile operators.
plans. The government said that this move three operators launched 5G technology in

129 APRIL-MAY 2021