Page 94 - SAMENA Trends - November 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved an action (November 12, 2020) commsupdate.com
plan for the deployment of 5G mobile networks, setting
a target of December 2021 for 5G consumer services The regulator National Council has extended the DTT
to become available, reports Liga.net quoting an multiplex licenses held by Zeonbud for an additional
announcement by Minister of Digital Transformation 10 years. However, Zeonbud, which is responsible
Ukraine Mikhail Fedorov on his Telegram channel. Under the for MX-1, MX-2, MX-3 and MX-5, will have to fulfil
plan, a working group of specialized organizations and a number of obligations or risk having its licenses
departments will be created this month to determine the revoked. Zeonbud has committed to putting an
scope of any research and development work required additional 47 transmitters in place for MX-1. Seven are
for 5G introduction as well as approve the state budget already working full time, and Zeonbud has signed a
for the project, with all research work expected to be contract with Rohde & Schwarz for equipment for 14
completed by June 2021. In August 2021 the working others. Frequencies for 26 transmitters will be released
group will prepare a draft resolution for approval by the following complete analogue shutdown and Zeonbud
Cabinet of Ministers on the allocation of 5G frequencies. has guaranteed they will then be put into service within
Meanwhile, a competitive process for the distribution four months. Zeonbud has also guaranteed that it will
of 5G licenses is scheduled to begin in February 2021, submit applications to change the modulation of the
and the winners of the tender should be given access signal from 256 QAM and 64 QAM in January 2021.
to new frequencies in October. (November 1, 2020) broadbandtvnews.com

UK regulator OFCOM has confirmed application British watchdog claimed that the legal requirements
deadlines for companies planning to take part in the for the case to be transferred to it had already been met,
upcoming 5G mobile spectrum auction. Bidding for while it also claimed that any impact on competition
spectrum in the 700 MHz and 3.6-3.6 GHz bands will from the tie-up ‘will be limited solely to UK consumers.
United start in January 2021. (November 17, 2020) commsupdate.com
(November 18, 2020) telecompaper.com
Kingdom The telecoms regulator OFCOM has announced the
The competition regulator the Competition and Markets finalizing of regulations relating to the planned award
Authority (CMA) is poised to take over the review of of spectrum in the 700MHz and 3.6GHz-3.8GHz bands.
the proposed merger between O2 UK and multi-play Having previously published a statement setting
service provider Virgin Media, Reuters reports, citing out its decisions for the release of frequencies in the
a person familiar with the matter. With the EC having aforementioned bands in March 2020, at that date the
until 19 November deadline to conclude its initial watchdog published a final draft of the regulations
investigation in to the tie-up, however, it has declined which would implement its decisions. Now, in its
to comment on the transfer of the case to the CMA. most recent update, it has confirmed that the final
Meanwhile, a joint statement issued by the companies regulations which implement its decisions – the
involved was cited simply as saying: ‘We remain in ‘Wireless Telegraphy (License Award) Regulations
constructive dialogue with all relevant stakeholders at 2020’, dated 3 November – will enter into force on
the EU and CMA and continue to work to the timeline 18 November. The regulator said it will now proceed
of completing the deal mid-next year.’ As previously with preparations to hold the auction ‘as soon as
reported by CommsUpdate, last month the CMA made it is reasonably practicable to do so in light of the
a formal request to the EC requesting that the latter COVID-19 pandemic’. To that end, OFCOM has said
transfer the review of the merger to it. At that time, the it will work with all interested bidders to ensure the
CMA noted that, while the planned tie-up fell under auction can proceed in a safe and secure way, while it
the remit of the EC to review, it can be transferred to has suggested that, in light of the practical steps that
the UK authority – subject to the agreement of the need to be taken in this regard, it is currently aiming for
European body. In requesting the transfer, the CMA had a formal start to the auction process in late November,
argued for this on the basis that of case’s ‘potential with a view to starting bidding in mid-January 2021.
impact on competition in several retail and wholesale (November 6, 2020) commsupdate.com
telecommunication markets in the UK’. Further, the

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