Page 80 - SAMENA Trends - November 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

base spectrum pricing framework to replace the current ASAF. adoption, equipment is readily available and this band is deemed
As part of the spectrum pricing review, the PTA/FAB has already valuable to mobile operators, particularly for the deployment of
submitted the revised ACR fee levels for principle approval by the the LTE. The PTA/FAB should plan transparent and effective
government of Pakistan for implementation. It will be applied to methodology for assignment of vacant portion of this band. The
services where auctions and the AIP are not implemented. The 2500MHz offers 190MHz of bandwidth (2500–2690 MHz) and it is
strategy has recommended that the current charging regime allocated in many countries for mobile services. This band should
based on ASAF may continue till the time a market-based be a high priority after the 1800MHz has been fully assigned. This
pricing formula for back-haul spectrum is in place. The ASAF band is now being used in many countries for LTE systems, and
is the administrative cost for managing access and back haul often being aggregated with other bands to deliver faster LTE
spectrums used by mobile operators pursuant to cellular policy speeds. This is crucial for mobile operators in Pakistan. Mobile
2004. It may be decoupled i.e. separate regimes to be introduced operators have also applied with the PTA/FAB to conduct 5G trials
for Access Spectrum Annual Administration Fees and Microwave in this band. The C-band (3.6 – 4.2 GHz) is a core spectrum band
Backhaul Spectrum (Administrative Incentive Pricing) regime. The for 5G deployment.
AIP and revised ASAF regimes to be implemented once finalized. (November 6, 2020) techjuice.pk
The PTA/FAB need to work for rationalization of spectrum, so
that mobile operators can be provided with standard spectrum The Federal Minister for Information Technology, Aminul Haq,
blocks. Some operators have started to shut down 2G systems says the government is making rapid efforts to introduce 5G
in some countries, while 2G will continue to be in use in many technology and planning has been done to ensure the provision
places including Pakistan, it will also start to phase out in a few of 5G services by December 2021. The Minister told Urdu News
years as mobile operators try to promote smart phones to earn that a trial 5G network will be launched at a hospital in Islamabad
revenue from data services. It is therefore useful to consider the under a partnership with local cellco Zong, which is owned
long-term use of this band and as far as possible divide the band by China Mobile. Officials are currently seeking a consultant
into separate lots of 2x 5MHz. Globally, the 1800 MHz is one of company to help prepare the terms for a 5G spectrum auction,
the most popular spectrum bands for mobile communications. though a detailed timetable for the licensing has yet to be laid
The band is now used to deploy LTE by several operators around out. In the meantime, work is ongoing to improve fiber backbone
the world. The PTA/FAB has also received requests for additional connectivity in Islamabad, Karachi and Gwadar.
spectrum assignments in this band. With widespread global (November 1, 2020) commsupdate.com

Saudi Arabia

The Communications and Information Technology Commission the webinar are wireless experts from different industries including
(CITC) will host a webinar, titled “Radio Spectrum for International satellite, mobile, IoT, WiFi and other wireless technologies, as well
Mobile Telecommunications (IMT)-2020 and beyond: Fostering as speakers from governmental and regulatory bodies across the
Commercial and Innovative Use”, in coordination with the world. The sessions will cover issues such as “Spectrum usage
International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The webinar will and property rights: privatization and trading of the resource” and
discuss the potential for radio spectrum and 5G to transform “Developing a sustainable national spectrum strategy: Meeting
the world into a digital society, through enabling different the demand of all sectors and radio services” and much more.
industries and proactively anticipating future needs. The growing (November 25, 2020) citc.gov.sa
opportunities for wideband spectrum access, coupled with
ongoing technological advancement, mean that 5G promises to In collaboration with Saudi telecom providers, the Communications
serve as a unified platform for a new era in digital transformation. and Information Technology Commission (CITC) launched an
The ITU encourages national spectrum policy makers to take a initiative to provide 60,000 free Wi-Fi hotspots in some public
holistic view, if emerging wireless technologies are to be adopted locations across the Kingdom. These locations include hospitals,
across many different sectors. As a fourth-generation digital malls, public parks and the Two Holy Mosques. CITC worked with
regulator, CITC is in charge of managing Saudi Arabia’s national telecom providers to implement this initiative through several
spectrum. The Commission has set out its National Spectrum phases, and will continue to oversight the execution phase of
Strategy (NSS), which aims to improve the commercial and this initiative, which is carried out by service providers. This
innovative use of the nation’s radio spectrum by 2025. Saudi phase includes fulfilling CITC’s requirements, including unifying
Arabia is the first country in the MENA region to implement a the network name for these free points “KSA Free WiFi- XXX” ,
national spectrum strategy. The Kingdom also ranked second facilitating user entry, and providing coverage maps that show
among G20 countries for spectrum allocation in 2019, and it is all free Wi-Fi points across the country. Dr. Mohammad Al-
this drive that places Saudi Arabia among the most significant Tamimi, Governor of CITC stated, “This initiative comes within
countries worldwide for emerging radio technologies. Speakers at the commission’s keenness to spread communication and

80 NOVEMBER 2020