Page 101 - SAMENA Trends - December 2023
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REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES  SAMENA TRENDS

                         next  year’s  auction,  two  50MHz  blocks  of  3500MHz   licensing  process,  which  the  government  hopes
                         spectrum are available from 1 December for localized   to  launch  in  Q1  2024  having  recently  reached  an
                         private  networks  of  companies  and  organizations,   agreement to relocate satellite services occupying the
                         separate from the 300MHz tranche of 3.5GHz airwaves   band. (December 1, 2023) www.government.nl
                         earmarked for the Netherlands’ 5G nationwide mobile





                         The  Office  of  Electronic  Communications  (Urzad   Telecoms   regulator,   the   Office   of   Electronic
                         Komunikacji Elektronicznej, UKE) in Poland has issued   Communications (UKE), is preparing to allocate 700MHz
                         3.5GHz  spectrum  to  the  winning  bidders  from  its  5G   spectrum next year which will be used to support 5G
                         frequency auction in October this year. Mobile network   networks. A report cites UKE president Jacek Oko as
        Poland           operators (MNOs) Orange, Play, T-Mobile and Plus were   saying  that  the  award  of  40MHz  of  spectrum  will  be
                         all  successful  in  gaining  3.5GHz  licenses  and  have
                                                                        one of the  authority’s  main tasks  in  2024.  There  has
                         now been issued 100MHz of spectrum. The first base   been discussion over the past few years regarding the
                         stations supporting the new band are expected to go   deployment of a single nationwide 700MHz 5G network
                         live early next year.                          which  could  be  utilized  by  all  operators  on  an  open
                         (December 21, 2023) www.commsupdate.com        access basis. (December 4, 2023) Inwestycje.pl




                         Arcep has  revealed  that  four  companies submitted   applications for the award of spectrum in the 900MHz
                         applications  for  assignment  of frequencies  in  the   band  in  the  French  overseas  territory  of Reunion  in
                         900MHz band in Reunion before the deadline, namely:   September 2023. The regulator highlighted that 2×5MHz
                         Orange, SFR, Free Reunion (Telco OI) and Zeop Mobile.   in the band is currently available for allocation, while an
        Reunion          Once  the  regulator has  examined  the  applications,  it   additional 2×30MHz will be available from 1 May 2025.
                                                                        Arcep will put up for auction seven blocks of 2×5MHz
                         will release the list of applicants eligible to participate
                         in the auction. The 900MHz spectrum will be awarded   each, valid until 23 May 2037; the spectrum will come
                         via a tender that will take place in the coming weeks,   with an obligation to cover all highways and main roads
                         with  licenses  scheduled  to  be  issued  in  the  second   by 1 May 2028.
                         quarter of 2024 at the latest. Arcep launched a call for   (December 8, 2023) www.commsupdate.com




                         The  Regulatory Authority for  Telecommunications   Sall  revealed  the  regulator had  opened  negotiations
                         and  Posts  (ARTP)  announced that  it  has  awarded  a   with other operators ‘to allow them, depending on the
                         5G  license  to  Saga  Africa  Holdings  (operating  under   means  at  their  disposal,  to be  eligible  for 5G’,  with
                         the  Free band), after the  company agreed  to pay   the cost determined by the quantity and quality of the
        Senegal          XOF13.5 billion (USD22.5 million) for the extension to   frequencies awarded. Free had agreed to pay XOF13.5
                                                                        billion for 90MHz of 3500MHz spectrum, he explained,
                         its  concession.  Free  becomes the  country’s  second
                         operator to be granted a 5G license, five months after   whereas  Sonatel  had  successfully  bid  a  total  of
                         Sonatel (Orange Senegal) bid a total of XOF34.5 billion   XOF34.5 billion to secure 10MHz in the more expensive
                         for  its  authorization  during  the  regulator’s  tendering   700MHz band and five additional blocks of frequencies.
                         process. Free and rival Expresso had submitted bids of   The  regulator also  revealed  Sonatel  is  planning  to
                         XOF3 billion and XOF2 billion – far below the reserve   launch a pilot 5G service in February 2024, ahead of a
                         price of XOF19.5 billion set by the ARTP. Speaking at a   commercial launch the following May.
                         press conference, ARTP Director General Abdou Karim   (December 19, 2023) www.commsupdate.com




                         The  Federal  Council  has  approved  the  release  of   of  the  economy.  In  particular,  the  council  recognized
                         spectrum  in  the  3400MHz-3500MHz  band  for  mobile   the  ‘valuable  role’  that  private  networks  have  in  the
                         private  networks  (MPNs  – also known as  campus   optimization  and  automation  of  internal  company
                         networks) from 1 January 2024. The council noted that   processes and the benefit that such systems can have
        Switzerland      it  had taken  into account  developments  elsewhere  in   in sectors including logistics, retail, manufacturing and
                         Europe and was responding to the demands and needs   healthcare.’ (December 1, 2023) www.commsupdate.com




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