Page 108 - SAMENA Trends - July-September 2024

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Independent Communications Authority of South satellite spectrum fees is “unsustainable in a globally
Africa (ICASA) has kicked off a consultation process to competitive environment, especially considering
develop a new framework that will make it easier for the large bandwidth requirements of modern HTS
LEO satellite operators such as Starlink to acquire a systems”. The proposed revamp suggests that LEO
South Africa license to offer services. According to a consultation satellite operators pay lower spectrum fees than
paper issued last week, ICASA is hoping to streamline
geostationary satellite operators because they use
licensing procedures for satellite service providers less spectrum and have fewer interference issues
so that the regulations can keep up with growing to mitigate. The proposed new framework will also
demand for satellite communications, particularly outline procedures for international satellite operators
in remote and underserved areas where terrestrial to register and operate within South Africa to ensure
networks are impractical or expensive to deploy. The compliance with national and international regulations.
framework aims to establish clear guidelines and rules ICASA said the new framework “aligns with the African
for satellite operators, and develop detailed procedures Telecommunications Union’s (ATU) recommendation
for authorizing various satellite services, including for member states to adopt transparent and
user terminals, IoT terminals, and earth station user harmonized regulatory frameworks to support the
terminals. ICASA is shooting for a technology-neutral growth of satellite services across the continent.” The
approach, with licenses based on the service provided regulation revamp is potentially good news for Starlink,
rather than the technology used to deliver it, which which is not authorized by ICASA to offer services
means service providers would only need to apply in South Africa, although that hasn’t stopped users
for one license rather than several. ICASA said it will from exploiting Starlink’s roaming feature to use the
also consider reviewing spectrum fees as part of service. South African website MyBroadband reports
the new framework, given the increasing bandwidth that Starlink sent another notice to South African users
requirements of modern satellite systems using on Friday saying it would cut off roaming services this
higher frequency bands. The issue is that the current Wednesday, and they will have to return to whatever
fee structure for gateway stations for geostationary country they registered for the service in order to keep
high-throughput satellite (HTS) systems has resulted using the service. Starlink sent a similar warning to
in high spectrum prices that have deterred some South African users in April, but never followed through,
satellite players from entering South Africa. The ICASA the report said.
framework said the existing formula for calculating (August 20, 2024) www.developingtelecoms.com

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications roadmap addresses several spectrum bands within
Commission (NBTC) in Thailand has announced plans the 3.3-4 GHz and 6.425-7.125 GHz ranges, Somphop
to auction spectrum in the 2.1 GHz and 2.3 GHz bands indicated that the focus will initially be on the 2.1 GHz
early next year, with the aim of enabling Thai mobile and 2.3 GHz bands due to high demand from domestic
Thailand operators to upgrade to 5G-Advanced (5G-A) and telecom operators. Currently, these two bands are
held by state-owned National Telecom (NT), but their
pave the way for future 6G systems. The NBTC made
this announcement as part of its broader spectrum licenses for these bands will expire in September 2025.
management strategy for 2025-2030, designed NT had requested an extension for these licenses, but
to support the evolution towards next-generation private operators True Corporation and Advanced Info
networks. According to local newspaper The Nation, Service (AIS) have been pushing for the spectrum to be
NBTC Commissioner Somphop Purivigraipong auctioned to support the development of 5G-A and 6G
confirmed that the auction of these spectrum bands is in Thailand.
scheduled for the first quarter of 2025. While the NBTC’s (September 10, 2024) www.rcrwireless.com

Telecom regulators from across the world have endorsed more than 600 participants, including ministers, heads
a set of guidelines aimed at maximizing the benefits of regulatory authorities, industry executives, and
of transformative information and communication academics. Some of the guidelines include adopting
technologies. This was reached at the Global a proactive approach that balances innovation
Uganda Symposium for Regulators (GSR), which took place promotion with risk minimization, incentivizing ethical
conduct and addressing misconduct, streamlining
last week at the Commonwealth Convention Centre
in Kampala, Uganda. Organized by the International regulations and processes to reduce bureaucratic
Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN Agency for hurdles and stakeholder engagement to prioritize
Digital Technologies, the symposium brought together inclusive stakeholder engagement and public

108 JULY-SEPTEMBER 2024