Page 93 - SAMENA Trends - August 2019

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

FCC Chairman Formally Recommends T-Mobile-Sprint Merger Approval

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit
Pai has shared with his colleagues a draft Order that would
approve, subject to conditions, the proposed merger between
T-Mobile US and Sprint. Addressing his fellow commissioners,
Mr. Pai wrote: ‘After one of the most exhaustive merger reviews
in Commission history, the evidence conclusively demonstrates
that this transaction will bring fast 5G wireless service to many
more Americans and help close the digital divide in rural areas.
Moreover, with the conditions included in this draft Order, the
merger will promote robust competition in mobile broadband, put
critical mid-band spectrum to use, and bring new competition
to the fixed broadband market. I thank our transaction team for
the thorough and careful analysis reflected in this draft Order
and hope that my colleagues will vote to approve it.’ Last month,
satellite TV giant DISH Network agreed to acquire Sprint’s
nationwide portfolio of 800MHz spectrum, as well as its pre-paid
mobile businesses, including Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile –
easing antitrust concerns and paving the way for the long-running
USD26 billion merger to close.

NCC To Decommission 693 Abandoned Telecoms Masts

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) may the telecoms regulator, failure to maintain these structures over
decommission about 693 telecoms masts alleged to have been long periods of time has resulted in their technical failure and
abandoned in several parts of the country. NCC however, gave constant vandalization with negative consequences on public
owners of the mast 90-days to rehabilitate, commence usage health and safety. In certain locations, NCC said it observed that
or dismantle and remove the masts/towers from the relevant criminals took advantage of these abandoned structures to host
locations. Though the Commission was not forthcoming about illegal broadcast equipment for relaying subversive messages
the operators that are likely to own the masts, but further against the State. NCC in the document, which was signed by
checks showed that larger percentage of the abandoned masts its Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Henry Nkemadu, said it issued
might belong to some Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) guidelines on technical specifications for the Installation of
operators, such as Starcomms, Multilinks, Reltel/Zoom, among Telecommunications Masts and Towers in 2009 to provide
others. The commission in a public notice titled: “First phase of for various issues including the appropriate maintenance of
Decommissioning/Dismantling of Abandoned Masts/Towers in telecommunications masts and towers. In line with the provision
the Country,” published on its website, dated August 9, 2019, said of the Guidelines, “owners of the listed abandoned masts and
it has identified several abandoned telecommunication masts towers are hereby given notice to rehabilitate, commence usage
and towers located in various parts of the country. According to or dismantle and remove the masts/towers from the relevant
locations within 90 days of the publication of this notice.” The
Commission noted that where there is a failure to comply with
the directive, it shall exercise its regulatory mandate by taking
necessary steps to decommission / dismantle the relevant
abandoned masts/towers. NCC said affected licensees will also
be required to reimburse the Commission for expenses in this
regard, in addition to the payment of a fine as provided in Chapter
5(4)(d) of the Guidelines. The Guardian checks showed that about
210 telecommunications masts may be decommissioned in the
South West, while 159 are in the South East. In the South, 147
masts are to be brought down. From the North West region, 65
abandoned masts will be brought down; North East has 48 to be
brought down and in the North Central, 64 telecoms mast may be
brought down.

93 AUGUST 2019