Page 117 - SAMENA Trends - Oct-Nov 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Ministry of Information Technologies and Commu- USD317.717 million reserve price for each of the four
nications has issued Resolution 3947 of 2023 ahead 80MHz blocks of 5G-suitable 3.5GHz spectrum. As
of the country’s multi-band 5G spectrum auction on 20 previously announced, the watchdog will auction spec-
December. The Resolution incorporates adjustments trum in the following bands: 700MHz (10MHz block),
made by MinTIC after it received almost 500 com- 1900MHz (10MHz), Extended AWS (30MHz), 2500MHz
ments from industry stakeholders in relation to its ear- (30MHz) and 3500MHz (320MHz).
lier consultation. Notably, the new Resolution has set a (October 25, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

The Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory is being prepared in order to use a frequency band that
Authority has launched a public consultation to will create an opportunity to create a separate Internet
discover if there is market demand for spectrum of Things network in Estonia. Through it, for example,
in the 410MHz-450MHz range. The watchdog says operators of energy, water, gas or other critical utilities
Estonia the band is particularly suited for Internet of Things could be offered communication services based on IoT/
(IoT) applications. Depending on the results of the M2M technologies for operating, managing, managing
consultation, the issuing of frequency licenses is the infrastructure, etc. It would also be suitable for
initially planned to be held in 2024. Erko Kulu, head communication networks that work with smaller data
of the TTJA’s frequency management department, volumes.’
commented: ‘With the discussion, a public competition (October 20, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

The Federal Network Agency (FNA) is considering issuing by the December 2022 deadline, and also failed to fulfil
fines to the country’s mobile network operators (MNOs) coverage obligations concerning federal traffic routes.
over their failure to meet coverage requirements of the Previously, where these targets could not be fulfilled,
2019 multi-band spectrum auction. According to a letter operators have blamed delays on a lack of building
Germany from the FNA seen by the Deutsche Presse-Agentur permits, a need for third parties’ involvement, a lack of
(dpa), the regulator initiated fine proceedings against public acceptance for new cell phone sites, and nature
Telekom Deutschland (TD), Telefonica Deutschland conservation requirements. The companies can now
(O2) and Vodafone Germany back in September. The submit statements on the matter and a final decision
trio reportedly failed to supply 500 underserved ‘white will be made by the FNA next year.
spots’ areas with mobile data speeds of up to 100Mbps (November 23, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has confirmed of NP in Guyana as a ‘transformative step’ towards
that the implementation of number portability (NP) is enhancing telecommunications services, adding: ‘It
progressing, with operators about to enter a final testing empowers consumers and businesses by putting them
period before the service is made available to the in control of their telecommunications choices, and
Guyana public. The PUC explained in a statement that service this will herald a new era of innovation and customer-
providers Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company centric service within the telecommunications industry.’
(GTT), Digicel Guyana and ENet are working with the Information for consumers regarding the new offer and
watchdog to ensure that the NP process is ‘seamless any changes to their service will be distributed by the
and efficient’. The regulator described the introduction trio of providers. (October 31, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has in January with an approximate total value of INR2.65
made a decision on the country’s next multi-band 5G trillion (USD31.83 billion), although the actual level of
mobile spectrum auction scheduled for January 2024, bidding interest from mobile operators is currently
apparently scrapping previous proposals to add any unclear. The report states that the Telecom Regulatory
India new frequency bands, and keeping the same base Authority of India (TRAI) has declined to provide base
bidding prices for any new frequency bands or fresh
prices and conditions as the previous 5G auction
concluded in August 2022. Unallocated frequencies reserve prices for any of the spectrum bands already in
in bands including 700MHz, 800MHz, 1800MHz, use by cellcos. The DoT had previously pushed for new
2100MHz, 3.5GHz and 26GHz are earmarked for sale bands to be offered via the auction including 37GHz

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