Page 101 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has issued an Expression telecommunications operating license will run for a
of Interest (EoI) for the partial privatization of incumbent month, with any and all interested bidders able to join
telecoms provider Ethio Telecom, while also announcing the consultation process. Meanwhile, Dr. Eyob Tekalign,
the start of a consultation process regarding plans State Minister at the Ministry of Finance, noted that the
Ethiopia for a third licensee in the country. In a press release proposed sale of a stake in Ethio Telecom, coupled with
regarding the matter finance minister Ato Ahmed Shide the initiation of the stakeholder consultation process
stated that, following ‘careful consideration’ of current for the country’s third telecommunication operating
market conditions and a ‘very stable outlook of the license, were both part of the government’s telecom
country’, the Ethiopian government was now ready to sector transformation plan, in which it aims to create a
engage with prospective bidders for a 40% stake in ‘world class’ telecom industry and enhance the country
Ethio Telecom. Deloitte Consulting will reportedly act as digital economy. In March this year the MoF announced
the transaction advisor representing the government. At that the partial privatization of the country’s monopoly
the same briefing as announcing plans to progress the telecoms provider had been postponed ‘given the
partial privatization, Ato Balcha Reba, General Director recent developments and fast-moving macroeconomic
of Ethiopian Communication Authority, confirmed changes both globally and from a country perspective’.
that a stakeholder consultation process for the third (November 17, 2022) www.commsupdate.com

France’s independent telecoms regulator, the Nation- The independent telecoms regulator, National Agen-
al Agency of Frequencies (Agence Nationale des Fre- cy of Frequencies (Agence Nationale des Frequences,
quences, ANFR), has published its monthly update on ANFR), has published its monthly update on the number
the number of base transceivers stations (BTS) in the of base transceivers stations (BTS) in the country, re-
France country, reporting that it had authorized a total of 37,412 porting that it had authorized a total of 36,868 5G sites
as of 1 November. The agency said that almost all of
5G sites as of 1 December, with 28,326 of these in op-
eration. The agency said that almost all of the 5G sites the 5G sites have been authorized on existing cellular
have been authorized on existing cellular sites already sites, already used for 2G, 3G or 4G technologies. Free
used for 2G, 3G or 4G technologies. Free Mobile had the Mobile had the highest number of operational 5G sites
highest number of operational 5G sites at 1 December at 1 November, with 16,152, followed by Bouygues Tele-
with 16,346, followed by Bouygues Telecom (9,184), com (8,634), SFR (7,539) and Orange (4,850).ANFR said
SFR (7,881) and Orange (5,094). ANFR said that a to- that a total of 20,407 sites are authorized in the 700MHz
tal of 20,714 sites are authorized in the 700MHz band, band, of which 16,144 are already technically operation-
of which 16,340 are already technically operational; al; Orange has one authorized site in the band, while Free
Orange has one authorized site in the band, while Free has 20,406 (16,144 in operation). A total of 15,940 sites
has 20,713 (16,144 in operation). A total of 16,335 sites had been authorized in the 2100MHz band, with 9,900
had been authorized in the 2100MHz band, with 10,289 of these in operation: Orange (322), SFR (4,833) and
of these in operation: Orange (716), SFR (8,758) and Bouygues (12,965). Meanwhile, 21,742 sites had been
Bouygues (13,369). Meanwhile, 22,607 sites had been authorized in the 3.5GHz band, with 14,333 of these
authorized in the 3.5GHz band, with 15,091 of these in operation: Orange (4,693), SFR (4,483), Bouygues
in operation: Orange (4,948), SFR (4,825), Bouygues (4,483) and Free (4,025).
(4,800) and Free (4,180). (November 7, 2022) www.commsupdate.com
(December 8, 2022) www.commsupdate.com

Arcep has published a decision authorizing Local be authorized to provide fixed broadband services using
Public Company for the Digital Development of Guyana the spectrum in the following isolated areas: Regina,
(SPLANG) to use frequencies in the 3420MHz-3460MHz Ouanary, Saul, Maripasoula, Camopi, Grand-Santi, Saint-
band in French Guiana until 31 December 2026 for fixed Elie, Apatou and Papaichton.
French connectivity services. Under the approval, SPLANG will (December 12, 2022) www.commsupdate.com
Guyana

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