Page 92 - SAMENA Trends - August 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

geographies rather than the larger partial rules also offer license holders a unique interference in the 3.5GHz band, which
economic areas (PEAs) it normally uses. opportunity to lease unused spectrum is designated as shared spectrum. FCC
She noted this offers utility companies a through a secondary marketplace, Chairman Ajit Pai hailed the start of bidding
prime opportunity to buy operator-grade predicting this would revolutionize “how as a “key milestone” in advancing 5G as a
licenses, which offer more security than spectrum gets licensed and leased going national priority. Unlicensed access to the
unlicensed spectrum and “are more suited forward”. Federated Wireless is one of a band was opened in January. A second
towards their own service and geographic handful of FCC-approved SAS providers, sale of mid-band spectrum in the C-Band
requirements”. She added the FCC’s with the system required to prevent (3.7GHz to 4.2GHz) is set for December.

Indian Operators Still Seeking Clarity on 26 GHz Band for 5G

The latest in a series of reminders request the Telecom Regulatory Authority set aside for 5G and, in any case, ongoing
from Indian operators has been of India (TRAI) to suggest a price for delays in spectrum auctions, in part over
delivered to the country’s Department the band. As Indian press reports point whether Huawei and ZTE will be involved
of Telecommunications (DoT) over the out, it has been eight months since the in 5G network deployment, have meant
absence – so far – of the 26 GHz band International Telecommunication Union that there is still no date for the auction of
in the long-awaited 5G spectrum auction finalized rules for global 5G deployment in 5G spectrum. In any case, even if 26 GHz
process. Pointing out that if mmWave the 26 GHz band, but the DoT has not, so became part of the offering, operators have
bands like 26 GHz are not offered soon far, sought pricing recommendations from made it clear that the suggested base price
spectrum may get claimed by other the regulator for 26 GHz spectrum – or for 5G spectrum in general is too high.
government agencies, the operators, even let operators know whether this band This activity comes only a couple of days
through the Cellular Operators Association will be available for 5G trials. The interest after press reports that operator Reliance
of India (COAI), have asked the DoT to in 26 GHz is partly because of its capacity: Jio has applied to DoT for 5G spectrum
the higher the frequency, the greater allocation for the field trials of its proposed
the ability to support high data-transfer 5G network in selected areas. This is
speeds, though range may be more limited interesting for two reasons. One is that Jio
than at lower frequencies. In fact a DoT has requested spectrum that includes 26
panel suggested in a draft report last year GHz, about which a DoT decision is still
that some 26 GHz spectrum and 3.5 GHz awaited. The other is Reliance Industries’
spectrum should be offered for 5G network bullish recent announcement that its
trials, but this suggestion doesn’t seem telecommunications unit has created a
to have been followed up. So far only made-in-India 5G solution.
spectrum in the 3.3-3.6 GHz band has been

TDSAT Stays TRAI Order on Airtel/Vodafone Idea Premium Plans

India’s Telecom Disputes Settlement and rates – whilst it conducts a detailed with Vodafone Idea accusing the regulator
Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has stayed review to establish whether the offerings of ‘bias and mala fide’ in its appeal. Jio, in
an order from the Telecom Regulatory violate rules regarding service quality and its letter to the TRAI and the subsequent
Authority of India (TRAI) which blocked net neutrality. TDSAT’s decision noted TDSAT hearings, has argued that telcos
premium plans offered by Bharti Airtel and that the TRAI did not need the providers could not guarantee faster speeds and
Vodafone Idea without giving the cellcos a to terminate their offerings to carry out that such claims are intended to mislead
hearing. The Economic Times writes that its investigation, adding that Vodafone customers. The TDSAT order allows Airtel
the TDSAT found that the TRAI’s order Idea’s offering had been available for eight and Vodafone Idea to resume sales of their
lacked justification and had been prompted months, having initially been filed with plans, but does not halt the TRAI’s inquiry
by a complaint from a competitor, Reliance the regulator in November 2019, with a and the tribunal instructed the cellcos
Jio Infocomm (Jio). Earlier this month the modified version submitted in May 2020. to respond to the regulator’s queries
TRAI had instructed Airtel and Vodafone Further, the tribunal added that it was regarding the impact of the plans on
to cease signing up customers to their ‘clear’ that the watchdog’s action had service quality for other users by 22 July.
‘RedX’ and ‘Platinum’ plans – which offer been prompted by a complaint from Jio
priority services and faster data transfer on 8 July; the TRAI had denied the claim,

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