Page 83 - SAMENA Trends - April 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Intertelecom Suing Regulator for Cancelling LTE License

Ukrainian CDMA mobile operator deactivate base stations in these areas confirmed that Intertelecom was yet to
Intertelecom is launching a legal case due to losing frequency rights, or else face pay UAH193.6 million (USD6.88 million)
against the National Commission for regulatory sanctions for illegally operating in licensing fees, having handed over
State Regulation of Communications equipment. The NCCIR announced on just UAH1 million. The launch of LTE by
& Informatization (NCCIR/NKRZI) for 1 April 2020 that it would cancel the LTE Intertelecom was intended to form part of
cancelling its 4G spectrum license, while license it had allocated to Intertelecom due the program of 800MHz-900MHz frequency
the company will be forced to give up to non-payment of the license fees. On 7 redistribution/refarming between four
certain regional 3G CDMA frequencies February 2020 Intertelecom was given the operators including GSM players Kyivstar,
under spectrum refarming agreements green light from the NCCIR to receive a 4G Vodafone and Lifecell alongside the CDMA
between the country’s main cellcos and the operating license and begin a national LTE provider. The GSM trio paid for their newly
regulator, reports Liga.Tech. Intertelecom network rollout using refarmed 800MHz- reallocated technology-neutral 900MHz
must now disconnect 9-15 channels in 850MHz spectrum whilst continuing to spectrum licenses last month, gaining
the Transcarpathian, Ivano-Frankivsk, support existing CDMA users. However, permission to launch LTE-900 services
Lviv and Volyn regions and will have to by the 1 April payment deadline the NCCIR from 1 July 2020.

Italian Cellcos Seek to Extend Licenses

A trio of Italian operators are looking eight years. Meanwhile, rival operators other operators for extensions of their own
to extend their rights to use wireless Telecom Italia (TIM) and Vodafone have 900MHz licenses, while it says it would
frequencies in the 900MHz and 2100MHz asked to extend licenses for 2100MHz back the extensions for TIM and Vodafone
bands. The country’s newest cellco Iliad, frequencies, again from end-2021 to end- with certain conditions relating to the
which launched in May 2018, wants to 2029. Telecoms regulator Agcom is in transition to 5G technology.
extend its 900MHz license which is due to favor of lengthening Iliad’s concession
expire on 31 December 2021 for a further under the same terms already offered to

PTA Sends 811.97 Million Messages to Create Awareness about COVID-19

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Fund-2020’. to help their subscribers stay connected.
(PTA), under its current ongoing campaign, Mobile subscribers can donate Rs 20/ Details of these offers/packages are
has sent 811.97 million messages to SMS by sending a text message on code being regularly updated on PTA website.
mobile phone users aimed at creating 6677. PTA is also closely monitoring the Prime Minister announced another two-
awareness about preventive measures measures taken by all telecom operators week extension in an ongoing lockdown.
against the coronavirus (COVID-19). amid COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan. The Now it will continue until April 30 due to
Messages had been sent in Urdu, English telecom operators have launched many rising numbers of coronavirus cases in
and regional languages for comfort of offers/initiatives for their subscribers. the country. The number of coronavirus
the PTA subscribers across the country Some are offering discounts or temporary cases, and deaths are way lesser than our
since March 19. Awareness SMSs in Urdu upgrades at low or no cost during the crisis projections due to the lockdown.
and English have also been sent to the
travelers/suspected persons who may
have come into contact with coronavirus
patients during travelling. Similarly,
Corona Awareness Ring Back Tones
(RBTs) have been initiated on 131.75
million subscribers’ mobile devices.
During the period, PTA has allocated 12
different short codes and 6 UAN (Toll Free)
numbers to government entities working
on controlling the pandemic. PTA has
also facilitated in arranging donations
by Mobile users in ‘Prime Minister’s

83 APRIL 2020