Page 100 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Superintendency of Telecommunications of 5G in the country means a loss of competitiveness
(Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones, Sutel) has and loss of investment in the country, as well as a
urged the government to help it recover unused and limitation to the benefits that users could receive
underused spectrum in the 2.6GHz band, which it deems from these technologies.’ On 7 September president
Costa Rica to be ‘vital for the development of 5G in Costa Rica’. The Rodrigo Chaves Robles confirmed that he has signed an
demand follows high-level government intervention to agreement which will see state-backed utility firm/telco
help secure the 3.5GHz band for 5G use (see below). Grupo ICE return its unused 5G-suitable spectrum in
As before, state-backed utility firm/telco Grupo ICE the 3.5GHz band. The agreement covered frequencies
(and its RACSA subsidiary) has been named as the in the 3400MHz-3500MHz and 3600MHz-3625MHz
culprit. Gilbert Camacho Mora, president of the Sutel bands. In addition to the 2.6GHz and 3.5GHz bands, The
Council, stated: ‘The Executive Branch must continue Grupo ICE has previously been accused of under-use of
with the immediate actions necessary to recover these spectrum in the 1400MHz and 26GHz bands.
resources, because they have the technical and legal (November 1, 2022) www.commsupdate.com
criteria to move forward. A further delay in the arrival

The Croatian Regulatory Agency for Network Operations available in the 3.5GHz band for regional (county level)
(Hrvatska regulatorna agencija za mrezne djelatnosti, operations, though this will be allocated via a separate
HAKOM) has received five applications to participate in auction process. Incumbent cellcos Hrvatski Telekom
its forthcoming multi-band spectrum auction which is (HT), A1 and Telemach applied to take part in the
Croatia due to begin on 16 January. The sale includes 60MHz 800MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, 2100MHz and 2600MHz
in the 800MHz band, 70MHz at 900MHz, 150MHz at auctions, while the regional 3.5GHz license sale will be
1800MHz, 120MHz in the 2100MHz range and 140MHz contested by Digicom and Markoja.
in the 2.6GHz band. There will also be up to 80MHz (November 10, 2022) www.commsupdate.com

Turkcell has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary The BTHK was initially planning to award 16 blocks
Kuzey Kibris Turkcell (KKTCell), which operates in of spectrum to the two existing mobile operators
the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), has in the TRNC, KKTC Telsim and KKTCell, in October
participated in the Information Technologies and (subsequently postponed due to an objection lodged
Cyprus Communication Authority’s (Bilgi Teknolojileri ve with the Competition Board). The 4G authorizations will
Haberlesme Kurumu, BTHK’s) 4G/5G spectrum auction, require successful bidders to deploy 4G technology with
held on 2 November 2022. KKTCell bid USD16.462 minimum downlink of 30Mbps ten months after license
million for a total of 247MHz of spectrum in the 700MHz, award. Regarding 5G, license holders will have three
800MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, 2100MHz, 2600MHz and years to deploy 5G with minimum download speeds
3600MHz bands, and will receive a 4G license with of 100Mbps to 60% of the population (95% within five
18-year validity and a 5G license with 20-year validity. years of license award). (November 4, 2022) www.commsupdate.com

The Electricity and Telecommunications Superinten- Telefonica Moviles El Salvador (Movistar). Interested
dency (Superintendencia General de Electricidad y parties have until 20 December to submit their applica-
Telecom, SIGET) has launched a public tender for mo- tions for the 2×15MHz on offer, with the auction set to
bile spectrum in the 1755MHz-1770MHz/2155MHz- take place on 23 December. SIGET has set a minimum
El Salvador 2170MHz (Extended AWS) frequency range. The move bid price of USD22.69 million for the frequencies.
follows a request from mobile network operator (MNO) (December 13, 2022) www.commsupdate.com

The Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory the minimum EUR2.00 million for two concessions.
Authority (Tarbijakaitse ja Tehnilise Jarelevalve Amet, Licensees are obliged to cover 50% of every county
TTJA) in Estonia has announced the winners of its within two years and 95% within four years, except for
700MHz 5G spectrum auction. Incumbent cellcos Te- five counties where 700MHz coverage cannot be guar-
Estonia lia, Elisa and Tele2 all secured two 2×5MHz licenses. anteed due to interference from TV broadcasts in neigh-
The auction began on 8 November, with each of the six boring Russia. In these counties operators can meet the
available licenses carrying a starting price of EUR1 mil- 95% target using other frequency bands. Earlier this
lion (USD1.03 million). The process ended after three year Elisa, Telia and Tele2 won 3.5GHz licenses. (November
rounds of bidding, with Elisa offering EUR2.11 million, 15, 2022) www.commsupdate.com 100 NOVEMBER- DECEMBER 2022
Telia agreeing to pay EUR2.01 million and Tele2 bidding