Page 77 - SAMENA Trends - November 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Egypt

Egyptian mobile operator Etisalat Misr has agreed to acquire a paid either in US dollars or the equivalent in Egyptian pounds –
2600MHz TDD mobile broadband spectrum license with 20MHz are due within one year and two after the signing of the contracts.
bandwidth at a cost of USD325 million, it was confirmed by the Commenting on the matter, Adel Hamed, Managing Director
National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA). Last and Chief Executive Officer at Telecom Egypt, said: ‘We are very
week, two others Egyptian cellcos, Vodafone and Telecom Egypt, pleased with the approval of Telecom Egypt’s offer for additional
issued statements confirming their new allocations of 2600MHz spectrum, which will have an immediate and future positive impact
TDD frequencies under ten-year licenses, with Vodafone agreeing on the company’s ability to reach the highest levels of service
to pay USD540 million for a 40MHz spectrum block and Telecom quality. This step will also lead to financial savings coming from
stumping up USD305 million for its 20MHz concession, following cost reductions related to the services provided.’
a first-stage bidding process completed in October. A fourth (November 6, 2020) commsupdate.com
operator, Orange Egypt, was outbid for the remaining 20MHz
license by Etisalat in the second stage of the NTRA’s process. Vodafone Group has announced that its Egyptian unit has been
(November 9, 2020) commsupdate.com awarded a 40MHz block of 2.6GHz TTD spectrum by the National
Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA). In a press
Telecom Egypt has announced that National Telecommunications release regarding the matter, the British company confirmed that
Regulatory Authority (NTRA) has accepted and approved the Vodafone Egypt has been awarded the new frequencies under a
financial and technical offer for additional spectrum that the ten-year license, valid through to 2030, for an initial payment of
operator submitted in September 2020. As a result, the operator USD270 million to be paid upon receipt of spectrum. Two further
has confirmed it now expects to receive a 20MHz block of payments – each of USD135 million – are due in 2021 and 2022,
spectrum in the 2600MHz band, utilizing TDD technology, with respectively. According to Vodafone Group, the new frequencies
the new frequencies to be valid for a ten-year period. It will pay a will enable Vodafone Egypt to ‘significantly expand network
total of USD305 million for its new spectrum, with half of that to capacity to meet growing demand for reliable, high quality voice
be paid in US dollars upon signing the contracts for it. Meanwhile, and data services.
two further instalments – each for 25% of the total cost and to be (November 5, 2020) commsupdate.com

Iraq

A Baghdad court has revoked a government decision to renew the government and authorities. In an interview with a local TV
the licenses of three of the nation’s cellcos for eight years channel the lawmaker was quoted as describing the operators as
following a legal challenge from politician Mohammed Shia Al ‘monopolistic’, adding that the court ruling could open the door
Sudani. The concessions held by Zain Iraq, Korek and Asiacell to competition in the sector from international companies or –
are all due to expire in 2022, but in July this year the Cabinet preferred option – the nationalization of the sector. Mr Al Sudani
approved a recommendation from the sector regulator to grant went on to claim that the providers offered ‘the worst services
a five-year extension to the licenses, plus a further three years ever’ but faced no repercussions from the authorities, adding
to compensate the telcos for losses incurred in 2014-2017, that the amount of paid and outstanding dues to the government
when the self-styled Islamic State (IS) militant group controlled were vague and inconsistent: ‘Whenever we ask, we get no clear
swathes of the country’s territory. Mr. Al Sudani alleged that the answer. I challenge anyone who can offer a number for the taxes
license renewal was the result of corruption, arguing that the they paid.’
companies are not competitive and receive undue favor from (November 16, 2020) The National

Jordan

According to the standards of the International Telecommunication the telecommunications sector in the world. The Regulator said
Union Jordan is the first in the Arab world among the regulators of that they are proud of these results, which came as a result of

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