Page 123 - SAMENA Trends - January-February 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, operations. Traficom’s chief specialist Heidi Himmanen,
Traficom, has unveiled its latest report, “Private said: “The fast and stable connection that a private
Networks in Finland”, highlighting the rising interest in network provides makes it possible to introduce
private mobile networks among Finnish businesses and technologically advanced solutions like automation
Finland organizations. The regulator noted that these networks and robotics in industrial plants.” The higher capacity
offer tailored solutions that promise high performance,
of the 5G network and options such as network slicing
security and reliability, particularly beneficial for sectors make it possible to implement increasingly high-quality
like healthcare, manufacturing and logistics. However, services, according to the Finnish regulator. “The
the report identifies hurdles for the adoption of private growing spectrum requirements of private networks
networks in Finland, such as high initial costs and limited needs to be recognized and considered in European
awareness, slowing widespread adoption. According to spectrum management, while also taking into account
the report, these challenges are expected to diminish the new opportunities offered by 6G technology”, added
as technology matures, prices drop, and promotional Himmanen. At the moment, the regulator said that
efforts increase. The regulator also highlighted that the 2.3GHz and 24.25–25.1 GHz bands are available
private networks deliver stable, high-speed connectivity, to local 4G/5G networks with a radio license from
making them ideal for industries that require dependable Traficom. (December 4, 2024) www.rcrwireless.com

Arcep is launching a public consultation on proposed the Authority dated 21 January 2025, the firm Orange
commitments from Orange for the years 2026 to 2028, proposed new commitments for this same LLU access,
regarding its tariffs for accessing copper local loop planning on maintaining the 2025 price cap from 2026
unbundling (LLU) which are subject to an obligation to 2028. For these three years, the recurring monthly
France of non-excessive pricing. As a reminder, for the years price cap would therefore be €10.70 per pair. The
2024 and 2025, Arcep had accepted and made legally
purpose of this consultation is to gather interested
binding the commitment that Orange made to comply stakeholders’ feedback on the commitments that
with a price cap on copper local loop access, subject Orange has proposed. (February 6, 2925) www.en.arcep.fr
to an obligation of non-excessive pricing. In a letter to

The Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport to develop these areas quickly, making use of both
(BMDV) has launched its 2025 Gigabit Funding public and private funding to ensure the best results.
program. Starting this month, €1.2 billion will be “Digitalization requires high-performance, resilient and
available to support infrastructure projects and a pilot future-proof networks. Fiber optic technology enables
Germany program to close connectivity gaps in underserved particularly fast, energy-efficient and reliable data
areas. This year’s funding round is centered on the communication. In this legislative period, we have
2025 infrastructure funding program, which includes made great progress in fiber optic expansion – thanks
both a standard funding process and a quicker “fast to the high dynamics in the market and our targeted
lane” option. The criteria and rules for applying remain funding,” said Federal Minister Dr. Volker Wissing in
largely the same as last year, providing stability for a press release. In 2022, around 560 projects were
states, municipalities, and applicants. The funding approved, with €2 billion invested in expanding fiber
round also includes the continuation of a pilot program optic networks. This helped provide more than 440,000
designed to improve internet access in smaller regions connections and helped around 1,700 communities.
that have been left out of gigabit expansion so far. With (January 24, 2025) www.totaltele.com
a simplified application process, this program aims

Nearly five years after operators launched 5G in Hong monthly data usage increased 7.7 per cent to 8.6GB.
Kong, users of the service accounted for almost 30 per Prepaid users accounted for almost 39 per cent of total
cent of total mobile subscriptions at end-September mobile subscriptions. Operators launched 5G services
2024, data from Office of the Communications Authority in 2020 using the 3.5GHz band. MVNO subscribers
Hong Kong (OFCA) showed. OFCA reported 5G subscriptions grew rose 13.6 per cent to 4.2 million and machine-type
16.1 per cent year-on-year to 7.6 million, while 4G users
connections increased 21.1 per cent to 762,203.
were marginally higher at 17.5 million. The number of 3G (January 6, 2025) www.mobileworldlive.com
customers fell 13.7 per cent to about 563,000. Average

123 JAN-FEB 2025