Page 110 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

total of EUR122.5 million for 2×5MHz of 700MHz FDD commitments, the winning bidders will be required to
spectrum and ten blocks of 10MHz in the 3400MHz- provide mobile broadband services to at least 70% of
3800MHz band, while RCS&RDS was awarded four the country’s population, most urban areas, highways,
blocks of 2×5MHz of 2600MHz FDD spectrum and five international airports and modernized railways, as well
lots of 10MHz in the 3400MHz-3800MHz band, paying a as 240 localities identified as having no or poor mobile
total of EUR45.5 million. User rights for spectrum in the coverage. The EUR432.61 million raised by the auction
700MHz and 1500MHz bands will be valid for 25 years will be paid in instalments, with the first payment total-
from 1 January 2023, the 3400MHz-3800MHz frequen- ing EUR119 million scheduled for 8 December and the
cies for 22 years starting from 1 January 2026, while final instalment of EUR80.01 million due on 17 Novem-
rights in the 2600MHz band will be valid for the period ber 2029.
1 January 2023 until 5 April 2029. In terms of coverage (November 16, 2022) www.commsupdate.com

The State Commission for Radio Frequencies (SCRF) spectrum is reportedly set to be offered in the 700MHz,
reportedly plans to formally allocate mobile frequencies 800MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, 2100MHz and 2600MHz
to Russian-backed network operators in occupied bands. The LPR separatist authorities transferred
territories of Ukraine, namely parts of the Zaporozhye the mobile operations of Lugansk Communications
Russia and Kherson regions currently under Russian military (Lugacom) – launched in 2015 – to the newly established
occupation and the self-proclaimed People’s Republics Mobile Communications Systems (’MKS’) on 1 July
of Donetsk and Luhansk (DPR and LPR). According to 2022 – claiming ‘one million active subscribers’ at that
an RBC article, the companies to be licensed are named date (unconfirmed). Lugacom continues to operate as
as MirTelecom, Mobile Communications Systems a wholesale internet network provider. LPR and DPR
(Luhansk), K-Telecom (an established Crimean network networks have used the Russian numbering prefix ‘7’
operator using the WIN Mobile brand) and separatist- since 1 May for mobile and 1 August for fixed telephony.
owned DPR operator Phoenix (Feniks). GSM/UMTS/LTE (December 13, 2022) TelecomDaily

The Regulation Authority for Telecommunications and January 2023, is intended to gather feedback on a range
Posts (L’Autorite de Regulation des Telecommunications of issues including the most suitable frequency bands,
et des Postes, ARTP) is seeking stakeholders’ views on the amount of spectrum to be allocated, license fees
the future deployment of 5G services in the country, and validity, potential rollout schedules, and coverage
Senegal ahead of the planned publication of its 5G roadmap in obligations.
March next year. The consultation, which will end on 3 (December 16, 2022) www.commsupdate.com

There was a recent announcement of what Somalian market and the investment in technology and
regulator the National Communications Authority innovation, and I hope that this agreement will put an
(NCA) calls an important milestone: an interconnection end to discussions that have lasted since the inception
agreement with Somali telecommunication companies of telecom companies in the country.” The National
Somalia that will allow customers of the various operators in the Communications Authority (NCA) is the regulatory body
for the communications sector in Somalia. NCA was
country to call each other seamlessly across different
networks. The agreement was said to be the result of established through the Communications Act of 2017.
a series of discussions and consultations between the Its mandate is to regulate the communications sector
relevant parties that worked out all the fundamental including telecommunications, internet, broadcasting,
issues necessary for the signing of the deal, including information, communications technology and
the tricky (as Kenyan operators may agree) mobile e-commerce services.
termination rate (MTR) issue. The interconnection (December 12, 2022) www. developingtelecoms.com
agreement comes into force on 10 January 2023;
the interconnection process will be completed by The National Communications Authority (NCA)
February of the same year. Mustafa Yasin Sheikh, has begun the process of awarding official mobile
General Manager of the National Communications spectrum licenses to the country’s telecoms operators.
Authority, said of the agreement: “In addition to the The move follows the finalization and approval of
interconnection agreement being a requirement regulations concerning the allocation and licensing
and a right for the customer, it is also an important of radio frequency spectrum, as well as network
benchmark for the growth of the telecommunications interconnection, on 24 September. According to the

110 NOVEMBER- DECEMBER 2022