Page 144 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The telecoms watchdog the Agency for Electronic in the 700MHz band; 40 blocks of 10MHz spectrum in
Communications and Postal Services (EKIP) has the 3.6GHz band; and five lots of 200MHz spectrum
opened a consultation regarding its draft plans for in the 26GHz band. All frequencies will be valid for 15
the tender of frequencies in the 700MHz (694MHz- years from the date of approval. The regulator notes
Montenegro 790MHz), 3.6GHz (3400MHz-3800MHz) and 26GHz one lot of 5MHz unpaired 700MHz frequencies and two
(26.5GHz-27.5GHz) bands scheduled for later this year. 10MHz blocks in the 3.6GHz band will not be subject
Interested parties are invited to submit their feedback to a one-time allocation fee, as they may require the
by 8 July. EKIP proposes to award a total of 1,475MHz development of additional measures to reduce harmful
of spectrum (2×30MHz paired and 1,415MHz unpaired) interference to neighboring frequency bands.
in the three bands as follows: six blocks of 2×5MHz (May 31, 2022) commsupdate.com
spectrum and three lots of unpaired 5MHz frequencies

The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia Authority of Namibia’s (CRAN’s) latest market report,
(CRAN) has launched a national campaign to raise the country’s mobile market grew by just 0.6% year-on-
awareness of the introduction of mandatory SIM card year to 2.915 million subscriptions at the end of 2021,
registration, which will come into effect on 1 January whereas mobile broadband subscriptions increased by
Namibia 2023. Noting the process was in line with international 8.8% to 1.894 million. (May 5, 2022) commsupdate.com
best practice, CRAN CEO Emilia Nghikembua explained
that operators will need to register all existing customers The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia
within twelve months and any new subscriptions (CRAN) has revealed it intends to review its frequency
within three months of the date of sale, following band plan every four years, The Namibian reports.
which all unregistered SIMs will be deactivated. The Speaking at a public consultative meeting about the
executive highlighted that having a secure authorized watchdog’s spectrum assignment strategy for 2022 to
digital identity has become increasingly important in a 2024, CEO Emilia Nghikembua said this would involve
democratic society in the interests of national security, amending frequency band allocations and regulations
public safety, and for the prevention of crime. ‘SIM as required, following due regulatory process, with
registration can enable many consumers to access spectrum licensees required to migrate to new
value-added mobile and digital services that would frequencies. The authority will address each migration on
otherwise be unavailable to them as unregistered users. a case-by-case basis in accordance with the regulations
Namibia must leverage on the use of safe and secure for spectrum licensing procedures, she added. ‘CRAN
mobile technology to enjoy the benefits of the Fourth has developed a spectrum assignment strategy setting
Industrial Revolution and meet the United Nations out objectives for spectrum management and providing
Sustainable Development Goals,’ she said. (June 8, 2022) clarity in respect of the authority’s approach to the
commsupdate.com control, planning, management, administration and
licensing of radio frequency spectrum,’ Nghikembua
The Ministry of Information and Communication told the meeting, adding the authority had set out
Technology (MICT) has attributed growth in conditions to ensure the efficient use of scarce
mobile broadband subscriptions to Mobile resources and prevent anti-competitive practices, such
Telecommunications’ (MTC’s) 081EVERY1 project, as the hoarding of spectrum, and to free up spectrum
which aims to achieve 100% population network space for assignment to emerging technologies and
coverage by 2023. Speaking at the Digital Rights services. ‘CRAN deems it prudent to keep abreast of the
and Inclusion Forum held in Windhoek last month, latest regulatory trends and technology developments
Deputy Minister of ICT Emma Theofelus claimed to ensure the efficient use of the spectrum as a limited
mobile broadband connectivity had been extended to resource, taking into account the spectrum is the basis
89% of the population, while LTE infrastructure now for development of the ICT sector,’ she said.
provides 79% coverage compared with 40% a year (April 21, 2022) commsupdate.com
earlier. According to the Communications Regulatory

A special advisory committee to the Dutch government should make 1×300MHz frequencies available for
has said that 5G mobile frequencies in the 3.5GHz band nationwide mobile usage, whilst ‘as long as the foreign
will become available after an auction on 1 December location is not yet operational (the aim is 2 January
2023. The committee recommends that satellite 2024), the satellite company will still have limited
The operator Inmarsat relocates its specific services in this space (80MHz) to continue its activities.’ Minister of
Economic Affairs Micky Adriaansens has received the
band ‘to a location they provide in Greece’. The auction
Netherlands
144 MAY-JUNE 2022