Page 140 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

completion, the transaction will lift StarHub’s fixed SGD74.2 million of debt for MyRepublic over a span
broadband market share by around six percentage of three years, upon completion of the transaction,
points to close to 40%. Further, StarHub committed to leaving the latter holding 49.9%. MyRepublic’s senior
an initial sum of SGD70.8 million for the 50.1% equity management team including co-founder and CEO
interest, plus a SGD92 million ‘deferred consideration Malcolm Rodrigues will remain in their roles.
dependent on future financial performance’. The new (March 10, 2022) commsupdate.com
majority shareholder also set out its plan to refinance

The Office for Regulation of Electronic Communications to 140MHz. The starting price has been set at EUR1.6
& Postal Services (Regulacny urad, RU) has published million (USD1.7 million) per block, so the state will be
details of its forthcoming auction of 5G-capable raising at least EUR62.4 million if all licenses are sold.
spectrum licenses in the 3.5GHz band. The regulator Existing nationwide permits in the 3400MHz-3800MHz
Slovakia aims to launch the sale in early May this year, with the range expire between December 2024 and August 2025
new concessions valid until end-2045. 39 blocks of
and are held by Orange, O2, SWAN (4ka) and Slovanet.
10MHz will be available, with each operator restricted In addition, Slovak Telekom (ST) and other operators
to a minimum of 80MHz and a maximum of 100MHz. hold regional concessions with an August 2025 expiry
If all blocks do not attract bids, the cap will be raised date. (March 7, 2022) commsupdate.com

The Independent Communications Authority of South Spectrum lots acquired in opt-in and main auction:
Africa (ICASA) has confirmed the successful conclusion • Telkom: 20MHz in 800MHz band and 22MHz in
of the main stage of the IMT spectrum auction, with the 3500MHz band (ZAR2.114 billion)
assignment round to determine the actual spectrum • Liquid: 4MHz in 3500MHz band (ZAR111 million)
South ranges scheduled to be held on 22 March 2022. The • Cell C: 10MHz in 3500MHz band (ZAR288.2 million)
Africa auction involved six qualified bidders – Cell C, Liquid • Rain: 20MHz in 700MHz band and 20MHz in
2600MHz band (ZAR1.431 billion)
Intelligent Technologies South Africa, MTN, Rain
Networks, Telkom and Vodacom. The auction included • MTN: 20MHz in 800MHz band, 40MHz in 2600MHz
58 rounds of bidding, with a total of ZAR14.478 billion and 40MHz in 3500MHz (ZAR5.152 billion)
(USD964 million) raised. One block of 2×10MHz in the • Vodacom: 20MHz in 700MHz band, 80MHz in
800MHz band went unsold; the lot will still be licensed 2600MHz band and 10MHz in 3500MHz band
in the future, the ICASA said. (ZAR5.382 billion).
(March 21, 2022) commsupdate.com

The telecommunications regulator unveiled a regulator said the in-app law will likely apply to app
guideline to clarify potential violations of a revised law store operators with sales of at least 100 billion won
banning store operators, like Apple and Google, from (US$81.6 million) in the previous fiscal year and a daily
forcing developers to use their own in-app payment average of least 1 million users, which includes both
systems. Earlier this week, the country's Cabinet Google and Apple. Under the new enforcement decree,
South Korea approved an enforcement decree revision of the app store operators will have to pay up to 2 percent of
Telecommunications Business Act that went into effect their revenue if they force developers to use their own
in September. South Korea became the first country in-app payment systems, and 1 percent for delays in
in the world to introduce such curbs on in-app billing reviewing apps. The new enforcement decree will go
policies of the tech giants. According to the guideline into effect on Tuesday. The in-app payment law came
revealed by the Korea Communications Commission amid growing global scrutiny of Google and Apple,
(KCC), authorities will determine the store operators' which maintain a strong grip over mobile ecosystems,
violations based on several criteria, including whether for requiring developers on their app stores to use their
app developers are given the freedom to choose their proprietary payment systems that charge fees of up to
preferred app payment system. The KCC will also 30 percent when users purchase digital goods within
determine whether the store operators cause harm apps.
to consumer benefit or impede fair competition. The (March 10, 2022) en.yna.co.kr

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