Page 114 - SAMENA Trends - Oct-Nov 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

REGULATORY ACTIVITIES BEYOND

THE SAMENA REGION

Argentina staged its long-awaited 5G spectrum 3500MHz band; USD350.026 million).
auction, generating a total of USD875.091 million Lot 3a: Unsold.
from the sale of three 3.5GHz spectrum lots. The Lot 3b: Telefonica Argentina (50MHz in the 3550MHz-
National Communications Agency (Ente Nacional 3600MHz band; USD175.013 million).
Argentina de Comunicaciones, ENACOM) has announced the Each license is valid for 20 years and the winning
winning bidders as follows: bidders have been given a five-stage rollout schedule
Lot 1: Claro Argentina (100MHz in the 3300MHz- which will see all towns that are home to at least 30,000
3400MHz band; USD350.052 million). inhabitants receive 5G access within seven years (i.e.,
Lot 2: Telecom Argentina (100MHz in the 3400MHz- by October 2030). (October 25, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

Telecoms regulator PSRC has extended the telecoms the network, a decrease in the quality of communication
operating license of domestic operator Ucom for in Yerevan, Ararat and Armavir regions, a little in Kotayk.
another 15 years. The decision was taken at the PSRC’s This is being done so that in the near future we will
latest session, held on 15 November, and also included have a more modern, a more innovative, higher quality
Armenia a separate decision to extend the telco’s rights to use system,’ he added. Further modernization programmes
a number of radio frequencies for another ten years. will be carried out across the regions during the course
‘Today’s decisions of the commission impose certain of 2024. In addition, the official noted that as part of
obligations on our company, which we must implement,’ the license extension, Ucom will be required to invest
Ucom CEO Ralph Yirikian is cited as saying. ‘I would like AMD500 million (USD1.2 million) in the development of
to warn our subscribers that for this reason, until about its fixed and mobile networks in the regions.
the end of the year, there may be some disruptions in (November 20, 2023) Arka News

The Australian Communications and Media Authority allocation activity undertaken as part of the ACMA’s
(ACMA) has completed the allocation process for wider release of mid-band spectrum. Specifically, the
area wide licenses (AWLs) in the 3.4GHz–4.0GHz regulator is in the process of preparing an auction for
band covering remote areas of Australia. Confirming spectrum licenses in the 3.4GHz and 3.7GHz bands
Australia the development, the regulator revealed that a total of for metropolitan and regional areas (expected to take
31 companies had applied for spectrum, all of which place in Q4 2023), and the administrative allocation of
successfully secured frequencies. According to the AWLs for 3800MHz-3950MHz spectrum in metropolitan
ACMA, the licenses have been issued to ‘resource and immediate surrounding areas as well as 3750MHz-
companies, companies providing public and private 3950MHz frequencies in ‘other regional areas’ (expected
telecommunications services and government Q1 2024). (November 17, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
organizations’; while it did not list the recipients in
detail, it has said it intends to publish full details A total of AUD37.2 million (USD23 million) in funding has
of the new concession holders to its Register of been awarded under the ‘Improving Mobile Coverage
Radiocommunications Licenses. With AWLs being Round’ (‘IMCR’) of the government’s ‘Mobile Black Spot
service and technology-flexible, the concessions are Program’, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport,
categorized as being suitable for small, localized Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
services as well as nationwide networks. As such, the (DITRDCA) has announced. With the IMCR having
ACMA has said it expects the newly-issued licenses attracted AUD28.8 million in industry co-investment, it
to support ‘a wide range of innovative business cases, was confirmed that the government grants will enable
including broadband services for remote communities, the construction of 41 new base stations to improve
health and safety applications, autonomous operation mobile coverage at 42 target locations. Meanwhile,
and monitoring, telemetry and robotics and augmented although it was confirmed that the IMCR did not
reality’. Of note, the awarding of these AWLs for result in solutions for twelve target locations, the
spectrum in remote areas is the first tranche of government has suggested that four areas will benefit

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