Page 156 - SAMENA Trends - April-May 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

roll-out of fiber-optic networks could potentially be perspective of infrastructure competition, in the long
coordinated within the applicable telecommunication run, undesirable to only have one exclusive fiber-optic
and competition laws. In essence, ACM suggests that network installed. In the annex to the report, the ACM
municipalities may request operators to start their provides guidelines on how the roll-out of fiber-optic
roll-out of fiber-optic networks in different geographic networks could be coordinated within the applicable
areas instead of installing parallel networks at the same telecommunications and competition laws. ACM
locations. However, ACM emphasizes that operators intends to use these guidelines as a ‘living document’
cannot be prohibited in the end, after a limited break which may be amended on the basis of future market
of excavation works during which duplication of and legal developments. ACM invites market players to
networks can be prevented, from installing a second continue providing their input on the guidelines.
fiber-optic network. According to ACM, it is from the (May 18, 2021) lexology.com

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) while the remaining 680MHz (3.52GHz-4.2GHz) of
has announced the signing of a memorandum of the band is used by NigComSat (NG-1R) satellites,’
understanding (MoU) with Nigerian Communications commented Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC Umar
Nigeria Satellite (NigComSat) to enable the rollout of 5G Garba Danbatta, adding: ‘The two agencies have been
in discussions on how to relocate the operations of NG-
services in the West African country. The agreement
will lead to the freeing up of spectrum in the 3.5GHz- 1R to the standard C-band 300MHz (3.9GHz-4.2GHz)
3.9GHz range which is currently used by NigComSat potion of the band, which is more suitable in terms of
satellites, but will be reallocated to mobile operators satellite service offering because end user terminal are
for the deployment of 5G networks. ‘For optimal cheaper there, while leaving the non-standard C-band
5G service performance, an average of contiguous 400MHz (3.5GHz-3.9GHz) portion of the band for 5G
100MHz of spectrum in the C-band is required by an use. The cost of relocating the NG-1R is expected to
operator. However in Nigeria, only 120MHz of the band be offset from the proceeds of the auction of the 5G
(3.4GHz-3.52GHz) is available for mobile services spectrum.’ (May 6, 2021) commsupdate.com

The telecoms regulator the National Communications cover the vast majority of frequency bands currently
Authority (Nasjonal kommunikasjonsmyndighet, being used for mobile services today, as well as those
NKOM) has successfully negotiated a new spectrum that are planned to be used in the future. Specifically,
coordination agreement with neighbors Finland and the agreement covers the following spectrum bands:
Norway Sweden, which it says is designed to facilitate the easy 700MHz, 800MHz, 900MHz, 1500MHz, 1800MHz,
use of 5G technology in border areas. In releasing the
2100MHz, 2300MHz, 2600MHz and 3600MHz. Of
proposed agreement for consultation, and having set a note, however, the agreement states that it ‘does not
deadline of 23 April 2021 for feedback from interested concern use of GSM technology and preferential GSM-
parties, the NKOM noted that it had proposed merging frequency assignments’, which ‘can continue to be
all existing agreements on relevant frequency bands operated according to existing agreements. According
in the border areas between the three countries to the NKOM, authorities in its neighboring countries
into a single document. Currently, there are several agreed that it would be easier to maintain a single
coordination agreements between the countries document, rather than several separate frequency
related to different frequency bands, and the Norwegian agreements, and it suggested that the new coordination
regulator suggests these are partly outdated and not fit agreement will become a ‘living document’ that is
for purpose. As such, the new expanded agreement will updated regularly. (March 26, 2021) commsupdate.com

The Agency for the Promotion of Private Investment 2300MHz range, at 2300MHz-2330MHz. The winner
(Agencia de Promocion de la Inversion Privada, of AWS frequencies will be required to provide network
ProInversion) has announced a special public tender coverage of 1,171 rural towns, including at least
for two lots of 4G spectrum, with the winning bidders 118 in the Valley of the Apurimac, Ene and Mantaro
Peru required to deploy mobile coverage to a combined total Rivers (Valle de los rios Apurimac, Ene y Mantaro,
VRAEM) region and in the jungle areas of the country.
of 1,561 rural and remote towns, comprising more than
300,000 inhabitants. The two lots of spectrum comprise The successful 2300MHz bidder, meanwhile, will be
2×30MHz in the 1700MHz band (AWS-3) at 1750MHz- required to roll out mobile networks to 390 rural towns
1780MHz/2150MHz-2180MHz and 1×30MHz in the across the country. (May 18, 2021) commsupdate.com

156 APRIL-MAY 2021