Page 149 - SAMENA Trends - April-May 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

China is forecast to reach 739 million 5G subscribers by 5G subscribers in February. The operator said it ended
2025, according to a recent study by ABI Research.This February with a total of 173.16 million 5G subscribers,
figure would represent nearly 40% of the global market compared to 15.4 million 5G customers in February
share in the 5G segment. In terms of the annual mobile 2020. Meanwhile, rival operator China Telecom added
China data consumption, the 5G annual data traffic in China a total of 6.2 million 5G subscribers in February to take
is forecast to reach 782 exabytes by 2025, representing its total 5G subscribers base to 103.37 million. Also,
a share of nearly 60% of the world’s total 5G data China Unicom ended February with 84.5 million 5G
consumption. “Unlike other early adopters, such as subscribers, up from 77.95 million the previous month.
South Korea, the United States, Finland, Japan, and (April 5, 2021) rcrwireless.com
many others, mobile operators in China are owned by
the government, which allow them to receive extensive The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
support for developing the 5G networks especially (MIIT) has issued its ‘Dual Gigabit Network Coordinated
in the consumer market,” said Jiancao Hou, 5G and Development Action Plan (2021-2023)’, setting out
mobile network infrastructure senior analyst at ABI targets and planned works for the extension of the
Research. “From a spectrum perspective, the mobile ‘dual gigabit network’ – the combination of gigabit
operators received 5G spectrum licenses for tests and fiber-optic and 5G infrastructures – over the next
trials in 2018, giving them the great opportunity to three years. Broadly, the strategy aims to promote
plan the best network deployment strategies and be development and take up of innovative applications
ready for the 5G commercial launch in the following and solutions for key industries and end users through
year.” Moreover, “the current trade war and the ban of construction of new facilities and upgrades to existing
the Chinese domestic vendors isn’t slowing down 5G systems. A key element of the strategy is to promote
deployment in China, at least over the next 2 to 3 years, the ‘complementary advantages’ of the two network
given its level of 5G deployment momentum.” Chinese types, highlighting the strength of fiber-optic systems
mobile operators have deployed a total of 690,000 5G within ‘indoor and complex environments with large
base stations as of October 2020, according to the transmission bandwidth, strong anti-interference
report. China Unicom and China Telecom are jointly and microsecond-level connection’ alongside 5G’s
deploying their standalone (SA) 5G RAN infrastructure flexibility, mobility and capacity to support a large
and sharing radio frequency resources. On the other number of connections. The action plan sets out
hand, China Mobile will continuously promote a a number of targets for the end of 2021 and end-
dual-mode solution (NSA and SA) to better support 2023, with the former including the extension of fiber
international roaming, and its collaboration strategy networks to over 200 million households nationwide,
with China Broadcasting Network is under discussion. the deployment of a total of 600,000 5G base stations
“There is no clear strategy guideline for promoting local to expand coverage into key towns and villages, and
licensed spectrum access or unlicensed and shared to build 20 ‘gigabit cities’. By the second deadline,
spectrum use in the Chinese telco market at the current the MIIT expects the fiber footprint to have expanded
stage,” Hou said. “Considering the comprehensive fiber to 400 million households and 5G networks to cover
deployment across the whole country, Fixed Wireless areas above the township level and key administrative
Access and mmWave deployment may receive limited villages. The regulator has also set end-2023 as the
attention, except for traffic offloading in hotspots.” The deadline for its so-called ‘Double Hundred’ goal, which
analyst also highlighted that the ban of the Chinese envisions the construction of 100 gigabit cities and
vendors’ development from other countries may 100 gigabit industry VPN benchmark projects. To
stimulate the revival of the domestic supply chain achieve these targets, the MIIT’s has set out a series
in the Chinese market. Chinese operators added a of 18 key tasks across six different areas, namely: giga
total of 16.94 million 5G subscribers during February, city construction; carrying capacity enhancement;
according to monthly statistics published on the industry convergence empowerment; strengthening
carriers’ websites. China Mobile, the world’s largest the industrial chain; user experience improvement; and
operator in terms of subscribers, added 4.19 million security enhancement. (March 29, 2021) commsupdate.com

Croatia’s Regulatory Agency for Network Operations offer 60MHz (three blocks of 2×10MHz) in the 700MHz
(HAKOM) has opened applications for its 5G spectrum range, 320MHz (32 blocks of 10MHz) at 3.5GHz and
auction in which it will offer frequencies in the 700MHz, 1000MHz (five blocks of 200MHz) at 26GHz. In addition,
3.5GHz and 26GHz bands. Prospective bidders have a further 80MHz of frequencies in the 3.5GHz band will
Croatia until 11 June to submit applications, with the auction be available via regional licenses. Croatia’s mobile
itself set to begin on 12 July. As previously announced, market is currently home to three operators: Hrvatski
licenses will be valid for 15 years, with the possibility of Telekom (HT), A1 and Telemach (formerly Tele2).
a five-year extension. On a national level, the sale will (May 28, 2021) commsupdate.com

149 APRIL-MAY 2021