Page 85 - SAMENA Trends - November 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Response Stream for the Universal Broadband Fund, constellation, to significantly improve connectivity
making up to CAD150 million available for projects that in rural and remote areas including the Far North.
will be completed by 15 November 2021. The Fund also The government said it has committed up to CAD600
includes CAD50 million dedicated to improving mobile million to secure the LEO capacity which will be made
internet availability in areas of benefit to Indigenous available to ISPs at a reduced rate (note: at the time
communities. Selected projects under the new funding of agreeing the Telesat partnership in July 2019 the
will be confirmed starting in early 2021. The government government earmarked ‘up to CAD685 million’ for the
also reiterated that it has entered into an agreement project, including CAD85 million through the Strategic
with Telesat to secure high-speed internet capacity Innovation Fund).
through the company’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite (November 10, 2020) www.canada.ca

The Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications Boreal and WOM were the only companies to submit
(MTT), through the Department of Telecommunications offers for the 700MHz contest, consisting of a single
(SUBTEL) has received offers from five companies 2×10MHz tranche of spectrum. For the 1700MHz band,
as part of its public tender for the development of 5G meanwhile, Borealnet and WOM are also competing
Chile networks. The tender comprises four separate contests with Claro, whilst the 26GHz band tender is contested
for spectrum in the 700MHz, 1700MHz (AWS), 3.5GHz
by three established MNOs: Claro, Entel and WOM.
and 26GHz bands, with the 3.5GHz competition seeing Finally, all four of the previously mentioned companies
the most interest despite legal challenges hanging over have submitted offers for a portion of the 150MHz of
the process. All four of the nation’s mobile network 3.5GHz frequencies that have been made available. In
operators (MNOs) have submitted offers for at least another unexpected development, however, Movistar
one of the bands, whilst new competitor Borealnet has also filed an offer for the spectrum, despite its
entered submissions for all but the 26GHz contest. The ongoing efforts to halt the tender. The cellco has argued
surprise newcomer is a consortium comprising US- that the design of the 5G auction process grants anti-
based communications firm Rivada Networks, which competitive advantages to some operators in certain
describes itself as a ‘designer, integrator and operator tenders and excludes competitors in others. The case
of wireless and interoperable communications was rejected by the Antitrust Tribunal (Tribunal de
networks’, and Business Finland – a public organization Defensa de la Libre Competencia, TDLC) earlier this
that finances innovation and research – La Tercera month but Movistar is reportedly planning to take the
writes. The company is reportedly aiming to establish matter to the Supreme Court.
a presence in the country as a wholesale provider. (November 20, 2020) commsupdate.com

The market regulator sought input from the country’s including Alibaba, Tencent and e-commerce platform
tech giants on proposed rules designed to curb anti- JD.com. The regulator proposed establishing a review
monopolistic practices and better-protect consumer system to monitor internet companies to prevent abuse
interest, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported. The of market power. It could force companies to sell assets,
China State Administration for Market Regulation said the technologies or intellectual property if breaches occur,
draft rules aimed to crack down on practices including WSJ stated. Authorities recently suspended an IPO
pricing items below cost, using data and algorithms to by Alipay parent Ant Group less than 48 hours before
offer different prices to different consumers, and taking trading was set to begin over regulatory concerns. Ant
advantage of market power to restrict sales on rival Group cited changes in fintech regulations as among
platforms, the newspaper wrote. Along with internet several factors which may have caused it to not meet
regulators and the State Taxation Administration, the listing requirements.
watchdog recently held meetings with tech companies (November 11, 2020) mobileworldlive.com

The 5G auction is expected to take place next month, exceed the 2×10MHz/700MHz and 100MHz/3.6GHz
with a view to the granting of licenses in January 2021. spectrum caps. Winning bidders will have an obligation
The sale process, which is being overseen by the Deputy to cover 70% of the population, as well as all highways
Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, will by 31 December 2025, delivering download speeds of
Cyprus involve six 2×5MHz lots in the 700MHz band and eight up to 100Mbps.
50MHz lots in the 3.6GHz band. Operators must not (November 20, 2020) commsupdate.com

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