Page 148 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

At Russia’s SatComRus-2020 conference, Andrei it does not achieve the recoupment of networks and
Zheglov, Deputy Director of the Department of State the ecosystem of 5G equipment is not developed. In
Policy in the Field of Communications of the Ministry addition, it has restrictions on the possibility of use
of Digital Development, Communications and Mass in the corridor 300km from the state border line. The
Russia Media, said that frequencies in the 4.8GHz band would benefits of allocating the 4800-4990MHz range are
be allocated to a single operator to create a 5G network,
not obvious for the country’s economy.’ Furthermore,
ComNews reports. The official highlighted that key 5G a spokesperson for rival cellco Tele2 Russia noted
frequencies in the 3.4GHz-3.8GHz and 700MHz bands that ‘market participants have not yet come to a
remained unavailable due to their continued usage common understanding regarding the model of a
by military/satellite and TV operators, respectively. single [5G] infrastructure operator.’ In July 2020 Mobile
ComNews quoted a representative of major Russian TeleSystems (MTS) received Russia’s first commercial
operator MegaFon commenting on the limitations license for 5G operations, in the 24.25GHz-24.65GHz
of the 4.8GHz band for 5G: ‘This range is not global, mmWave band. (October 12, 2020) commsupdate.com

Serbian telecoms watchdog the Republic Agency for downlink (SDL) spectrum, to be allocated in 2×5MHz
Electronic Communications (RATEL) has launched and 1×5MHz blocks, respectively. In addition,
a public consultation on a frequency allocation plan the plan features protected frequency bands at
for spectrum in the 694MHz-790MHz range. The 698MHz-703MHz/753MHz-758MHz and 733MHz-
Serbia draft plan would allow the frequencies to be used for 736MHz/788MHz-791MHz, which the regulator has
earmarked for Public Protection and Disaster Relief
Mobile/Fixed Communications Networks (MFCNs) –
including wireless and fixed-wireless technologies – (PPDR) services. Ratel has invited stakeholders to
and would partition the range into 2×30MHz tranche submit opinions on the draft plan by 6 November.
of FDD frequencies and 1×15MHz of supplemental (October 19, 2020) commsupdate.com

The government of Slovakia says it intends to launch to the report. The Office for Regulation of Electronic
its 5G spectrum auction process by the end of the Communications & Postal Services (Regulacny urad,
year. A report cites Ivan Martak, the chairman of the RU) intends to sell 5G-capable 700MHz frequencies,
country’s telecoms regulator, as saying: ‘The priority is alongside 900MHz and 1800MHz spectrum. The
Slovakia to complete the 5G auction. We have suspended it since 60MHz of sought-after 700MHz frequencies will be
sold in six 2×5MHz blocks, with each carrying a reserve
18 June, which was three months ago. We have millions
of euros deposited [by interested bidders] as a financial price of EUR16 million (USD18.7 million) with a validity
security. We definitely want to have it ready by the end of 20 years. A limit of 2×15MHz per operator will apply
of the year.’ There was no official reason given for the to ensure that there are at least two winners.
suspension of the sale in June, though it is thought to (September 25, 2020) zive.sk
have centered on ‘unspecified security risks’, according

The Agency for Communications Networks & Services an enlarged regulator will ‘slow down the performance
(Agencija za komunikacijska omrezja in storitve, of statutory tasks and responsiveness to market
AKOS) has responded to government plans to create conditions’. It says that its existing remit is already
a new regulator with a much wider remit. The new one of the widest among European regulators, covering
watchdog – to be called the Public Agency for Market electronic communications, radiocommunications,
Slovenia and Consumers – will incorporate the operations post, electronic media and railways, even though it is
of AKOS and the Agency for Financial Markets. As the fourth smallest regulatory body in Europe in terms
well as complaining that it was given just one day to of employees.
respond to the government proposals, AKOS says that (October 7, 2020) commsupdate.com

148 SEP-OCT 2020