Page 96 - SAMENA Trends - December 2023
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REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES  SAMENA TRENDS


                                  REGULATORY ACTIVITIES BEYOND

                                            THE SAMENA REGION




                         The  State  Assets  &  Participations  Management   year. Furthermore,  Unitel’s  50%  shareholder, Angolan
                         Institute (Instituto de Gestao de Activos e Participacoes   state oil firm Sonangol (which itself also wholly owns
                         do  Estado,  IGAPE)  has  indicated  that  a  planned  part-  fixed  broadband  operator  MSTelcom),  was  expected
                         privatization  of  mobile  market  leader  Unitel  has  been   to begin IPO preparations in 2024, but the latest IGAPE
        Angola           delayed  to  2025.  In  April  2023  Unitel  was  among   disclosures  indicate  that  the  parent  group’s  IPO  is
                         twelve  firms  earmarked  by  the  government  for  initial   currently scheduled for 2026. IGAPE is the trustee for the
                         public offerings  (IPOs)  on the  Angolan  Debt  &  Stock   other 50% of Unitel’s shares. Another planned telecoms
                         Exchange  (Bolsa  de  Divida  e  Valores  de  Angola,   sector IPO, that of TV Cabo Angola, remains earmarked
                         BODIVA) under processes set to begin by the end of the   to be completed in 2024. (December 1, 2023) Expansao




                         The Regulatory Authority for Broadcasting & Telecoms   (with the minimum bid price ranging from EUR50,000
                         (RTR)  has  published  the  terms  and  conditions  for its   to EUR1.36 million, depending on the block). The usage
                         planned auction of nationwide frequency usage rights   rights to the frequency blocks in the 25.5GHz-25.9GHz
                         in  the  26GHz  band  and  regional  usage  rights  in  the   will  be  valid  from 1  January  2025  to 31  December
        Austria          previously  unassigned  3410MHz-3470MHz  range,   2046,  while  the  26.5GHz-27.5GHz  spectrum  is  valid
                         which went unsold for seven regions in 2019. Operators   from  the  assignment  date  to  31  December  2046  and
                         interested  in  participating  in  the  spectrum allocation   the 3600MHz spectrum will be valid from assignment
                         procedure have until  12  February 2024  to submit an   until  31  December  2039.  Depending  on  the  amount
                         application, with the auction expected to begin in March.   of spectrum acquired, license holders will be required
                         Under the terms and conditions, the 26GHz spectrum   to  fulfil  certain  network  coverage  requirements,  for
                         will be divided up into seven 1×200MHz blocks, ranging   example operators with 200MHz of 26GHz frequencies
                         from  25.5GHz-25.9GHz  and  26.5GHz-27.5GHz  with  a   must  supply  service  to  at  least  ten  locations  by  the
                         minimum bid price of EUR1.9 million (USD2.0 million)   start of 2027, 30 by 2030 and at least 100 areas by the
                         per block, while the 3.6GHz spectrum is to be divided   start  of  2034,  while  licensees  with  400MHz  or  more
                         into seven  regional  blocks, including  two lots  of   are required to cover 20, 60 and 200 locations by those
                         1×10MHz, one block of 1×40MHz and four of 1×60MHz   dates. (December 8, 2023) www.commsupdate.com




                         The National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) has   generated  BRL762.67  million  (USD190.33  million),
                         formally cancelled the award of 46 pending spectrum   with the now-defunct Nextel Brasil making the highest
                         licenses in the 1900MHz and 2.5GHz bands that were   financial  commitment  of  all  of  the  bidders,  pledging
                         auctioned back in  December 2015.  Due to a number   BRL455  million  for  a  block  of  1800MHz  spectrum
        Brazil           of withdrawals, the  aforementioned  concessions   covering Sao Paulo and Greater Sao Paulo.
                         were still awaiting adjudication by the watchdog eight
                                                                        (December 13, 2023) TeleTime
                         years on. The licenses will no longer be reauctioned as
                         planned, and no financial penalties will be incurred from   The National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) has
                         companies that  did  not  use  their frequencies.  Anatel   confirmed  that  3.5GHz  licensees  are  able  to  activate
                         advisor Artur Coimbra said: ‘It cannot be ignored that   5G  services  in  a  further  623  municipalities  from  4
                         [the  auction process] gave rise  to very complex and   December, as per the recommendations of the Group
                         challenging technical solutions, potentially incompatible   for the  Implementation  of Solutions  for Interference
                         with the financial capacity of the providers. We placed   Problems (GAISPI).  The  decision means  that  a total
                         PPPs [Prestadoras de Pequeno Porte/small providers]   of 3,079 towns and cities have now been approved for
                         front and center in  the  telecom sector. Much of the   3.5GHz Standalone (SA) 5G use, equating to 172 million
                         success  of the  5G  auction  was  due  to the  wisdom   Brazilians, or 81% of the population. Going forward, the
                         brought by this 2015 [auction process].’ Coimbra noted   authorities  are  targeting  3,678  municipalities  by  June
                         that more than 20,000 regional spectrum lots were put   2024,  while  all  5,570  municipalities  should  have  5G
                         up for sale, which led to more than 100,000 bids and   access by 2026. (December 1, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
                         a ‘tangle of resources. The so-called leftovers auction


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