Page 97 - SAMENA Trends - October 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Ministry of Transport and Communications 5Mbps. As noted in TeleGeography’s GlobalComms
(Liikenne-ja viestintaministerio, MoTC) has issued a Database, all consumers and businesses were initially
decree under which the minimum level of speed that entitled by law to a broadband subscription offering
must be provided by universal broadband service download speeds of at least 1Mbps from 1 July 2010.
Finland providers will increase to up to 5Mbps. In a press Plans for an increase to the minimum mandated
release, the MoTC confirmed that the decree will enter
downlink rate was then announced when the MoTC
into force on 25 October 2021, while it specified that in April 2015 confirmed it would require operators to
as per the ruling minimum downlink speeds must be provide a higher minimum rate of 2Mbps; it was not,
at least 3.5Mbps, while ‘normal’ speeds – defined as however, until May 2016 that designations of universal
‘the speed that is maintained in 90% of cases during service providers for 2Mbps broadband connections
each four-hour measurement period’ – must be at were made.
least 4.5Mbps, with maximum speeds required being (October 22, 2021) commsupdate.com

The Federal Network Agency (FNA) has published its migration plans. The FNA will not give Telekom any
draft decision for the framework conditions under guidelines as to whether and when it has to switch off
which telecoms operator can gain access to the ‘last parts of its copper network, as the regulation focuses on Draft
mile’ network of Telekom Deutschland in the next few making the transition transparent for users, consumers
Germany years. The draft regulation proposes that the FNA will and other providers with sufficiently long lead times.
The FNA has announced its regulatory proposals in
not regulate Telekom’s new fiber-optic networks with
the same intensity as its copper networks and will anticipation of the Telecommunications Modernization
stop ex-ante regulation of access to the last mile of Act, which will come into force on 1 December 2021.
the new gigabit infrastructure. The non-discriminatory Interested parties have until 15 November to comment
access to the fiber-optic networks of the Telekom is to in writing on the draft decision. ‘The FNA is setting
be secured by an equal treatment obligation according the course for accelerated fiber-optic expansion in
to the Equivalence of Input principle (EoI), under which Germany. Unlike the copper network, access to the
other companies can obtain access under the same fiber-optic network of Telekom is not regulated ex ante,’
system and process conditions as those available commented the FNA’s President, Jochen Homann,
to Telekom itself. The fees paid by other operators adding: ‘This is a big step and the signal for Telekom to
to Telekom for the use of its fiber-optic networks are rapidly expand its fiber-optic network. In return, it must
to be checked in the event of anomalies. In order to allow competitors to use its fiber-optic network under
promote the expansion of fiber-optics, the planned the same conditions as its own sales department. The
regulatory framework also provides for expanded duct FNA reserves the right to intervene only in the event
access to accelerate the expansion of the network and of anti-competitive abuse. The FNA expects Telekom
save unnecessary civil engineering costs. The fees for and its competitors to use the new market regime to
empty conduit access should, as before, be subject significantly increase their investments in fiber-optics.
to approval. The regulation of Telekom’s copper This reduction in regulation is a paradigm shift that
networks is to be retained for the most part, although shows that the FNA reacts flexibly and innovatively to
the operator will now be obliged to notify in good time new market developments.’
any migration to fiber-optic networks associated with (October 13, 2021) commsupdate.com
the dismantling of copper infrastructure and to present

The Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) The Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) in
has completed its latest 5G spectrum auction, raising Hong Kong said its auction of spectrum in the 600MHz,
a total of HKD1.877 billion (USD241 million) over 700MHz, 850MHz, 2.5GHz/2.6GHz and 4.9GHz bands
32 rounds of bidding. 255MHz of frequencies in the saw bids totaling HKD1.37 billion (USD176 million) at
Hong Kong 700MHz, 850MHz, 2.5GHz and 4.9GHz bands was sold the end of its first day. Nine rounds of bidding were
to the four incumbent cellcos under 15-year licenses.
completed, with the auction continuing. The sale is
Hutchison 3 acquired concessions at 700MHz and being contested by the four incumbent cellcos: Hong
2.5GHz, SmarTone bought 700MHz, 850MHz and Kong Telecommunications (HKT), Hutchison 3, China
4.9GHz spectrum, HKT secured frequencies in the Mobile HK (CMHK) and SmarTone.
700MHz and 2.5GHz bands, while China Mobile Hong (October 26, 2021) commsupdate.com
Kong (CMHK) won licenses at 700MHz, 2.5GHz and
4.9GHz. (October 28, 2021) commsupdate.com

97 OCTOBER 2021