Page 143 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2019

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Swedish Post and Telecom Agency (Post & of 2020, though these plans have now been side-lined.
Telestyrelsen, PTS) has opened up further bands for 5G Sweden is not in a unique position when it comes to a
testing. The regulator says frequencies will be made need to free-up valuable spectrum assets, though that
available at 3.6GHz-3.8GHz, 3.8GHz-4.2GHz, 40.5GHz- will come as little comfort to those who were gearing-
Sweden 43.5GHz, 45.5GHz-47.0GHz, 47.2GHz-48.0GHz and up for an auction in the coming months. Reviews like
66GHz-71GHz. Testing is already being carried out this create a sense of uncertainty in the minds of the
using 3.4GHz-3.6GHz and 26.5GHz-27.5GHz spectrum. telcos, and uncertainty is the enemy of investment.
The regulator says it plans to award 3.4GHz-3.8GHz You only have to look at the UK for evidence of this.
and 24.25GHz-27.5GHz licenses ‘as soon as possible’ Thanks to the creation of the Supply Chain Review,
though a sale has been delayed due to changes being the position of Huawei is still an on-going unknown.
made to the country’s Electronic Communications Act This has led the telcos to falter with deployment plans.
(LEK). The PTS also recently opened a consultation Unless Sweden want to encounter the same problems,
into the award of 3.5GHz and 2.3GHz spectrum. such a security review will have to be completed
(December 20, 2019) commsupdate.com incredibly quickly. Obligations and conditions will have
to be considered and relevant, as the last thing anyone
The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) has will want is protest from industry, further delaying
announced it will delay the allocation of spectrum the critical element of certainty. Many will hope such
in the 3.5 GHz and 2.3 GHz bands due to a security a security review does not enter the country into the
review. The 3.5 GHz and 2.3 GHz bands spectrum same purgatory which the UK finds itself in with the
bands are two of the most attractive when it comes to Supply Chain Review, but it would surprise few if it did.
rolling out 5G services, blending together a palatable (November 18, 2019) telecoms.com
compromise between increased download speeds
and coverage. These spectrum auctions have proven The Swedish Post and Telecom Agency (Post &
to be some of the most interesting, though the delay Telestyrelsen, PTS) is consulting with the EC over its
will be an irritant for the ambitious telcos. Pointing draft decision regarding competition in the country’s
towards new security implications introduced in the fixed broadband markets. In its proposal the PTS
country’s electronic communications law, which will be notes that Telia has a special position in Market 3a
implemented on January 1, 2020, the regulator feels it (local access to network infrastructure). This means
needs more time to continue discussions with police that the company is subject to obligations regarding,
and security agencies. Details are thin on the ground for among other things, terms and prices. With regard to
the moment, though this is hardly going to be viewed Market 3b (central access to network infrastructure),
as a plus at the telcos who have been demanding more the regulator finds that the market should continue
spectrum be released. In June, progress looked to to be unregulated. The PTS notes that continued
be gathering momentum as PTS announced a public regulation of local access is sufficient to ensure
consultation to release spectrum in the 3.5 GHz and 2.3 effective competition in the consumer markets. Telia
GHz bands. 15 national blocks of at least 20 MHz in the is Sweden’s dominant fixed broadband provider,
3.4 GHz-3.7 GHz band were set to be auctioned, as well accounting for around 32% of all retail connections at
as up to eight 10 MHz nationwide licenses at 2.3GHz. the end of June 2019.
The auction was likely to take place in the early part (November 11, 2019) telegeography.com

Swiss telecoms watchdog the Federal Office of changes include a complete revision of the Ordinance
Communication (Ofcom) has opened consultation on on Frequency Management and Radio Licenses which
planned revisions of the implementing provisions of will be replaced by an entirely new Ordinance on Radio
the Telecommunications Act. The Act was adopted Frequencies, though Ofcom states that the changes
in March this year, but Ofcom notes that elements will principally be ‘technical adjustments’. Similarly, the
Switzerland of the regulations implementing the new law must Federal Council has proposed updates to the Ordinance
be revised. Ofcom notes that the revision centers on Telecommunications Installations, the Ordinance
primarily on the Ordinance of Telecommunications on Electromagnetic Compatibility and the Ordnance on
Services, specifically areas covering: registration of Telecommunications Fees. The consultation period is
telecommunication service providers, international due to last until 25 March 2020.
roaming billing procedures, quality measurements, (December 9, 2019) commsupdate.com
emergency calls and safety communications. Other

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