Page 98 - SAMENA Trends - April 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

improve incentives for NBN Co to meet its connection, continue negotiations on new wholesale arrangements,
fault repair and technician appointment commitments. which are due to expire later this year.’ With specific
Meanwhile, the second position paper, related to the regards to the matter of the pricing of basis services,
NBN Access Pricing Inquiry, codifies what the ACCC Cifuentes added: ‘NBN Co has recently allowed access
considers to be fair and affordable prices for basic seekers to boost their capacity on the network by up
speed NBN services (classified as offering downlink/ to 40% at no extra cost for three months, which does
uplink speeds of 12Mbps/1 Mbps). Commenting, ACCC temporarily address a key concern we have regarding
Commissioner Cristina Cifuentes was cited as saying: NBN access pricing for basic services.’
‘We have released the position papers to provide (April 2, 2020) commsupdate.com
guidance for NBN Co and access seekers if they

The Belgian Institute for Post and Telecommunications of up to 10Gbps per channel of 2GHz. According to
(BIPT) has opened a consultation on plans to grant the the draft decision, the three operators would each
country’s three main mobile network operators (MNOs) be granted a 1GHz block of spectrum, while they and
– Proximus, Orange and Telenet – exclusive permits other users would also be able to deploy links using the
Belgium for mobile backhaul frequencies. This would amend remaining 1GHz and 0.75GHz blocks. The consultation
licenses in the E-band (71GHz-76GHz with duplex in will close on 30 April 2020.
81GHz-86GHz), enabling 5G backhaul connections (April 6, 2020) commsupdate.com

Telecoms watchdog the Ministry of Industry and spectrum. The spectrum in question is currently
Information Technology (MIIT) has announced that held by radio and TV broadcaster and 5G newcomer
it has adjusted the country’s frequency use plan for China Broadcasting Network (CBN, also known as
the 700MHz range to accelerate the development of China Radio and Television), which plans to use the
China 5G technology and to promote the effective use of airwaves in conjunction with its 4.9GHz spectrum to
spectrum resources. Under the new plan, MIIT will provide a suite of interactive TV services in the short
abandon the current usage plan – 702MHz-798MHz term, and mobile communication and IoT services
for TV and radio and broadcasting – in favor of in the future. Local news outlet C114 writes that the
703MHz-743MHz/758MHz-798MHz for FDD mobile operator still needs to clear the spectrum and migrate
communication systems. In its notification, the MIIT existing radio and TV services to other frequencies,
rules that mobile systems operating in the band must the cost of which was estimated to run to more than
not interfere with broadcasting or other services CNY10 billion (USD1.41 billion). The operator may
operating in the same or adjacent frequency bands. be able to reduce that expense through cooperation
Further, to avoid interference, frequency migration, with cellular providers, though, with a senior China
site relocation and equipment medication of existing Mobile official quoted as saying that the two providers
legal radio stations must be carried out, although the had communicated ‘to discuss the possibility of co-
cost will be borne by the user of the 700MHz mobile construction’. (April 2, 2020) commsupdate.com

The Ethiopian Communications Authority (ECA) has additional directives ‘in the next few days’, with these
published drafts of several directives designed to to cover areas including quality of service (QoS),
‘facilitate issuance of telecommunications service numbering, interconnection, infrastructure sharing
licenses pursuant to the new Telecommunications and collocation, telecommunications rights of way,
Ethiopia Regulatory Framework’, and is now seeking feedback and a universal access obligation (USO) framework. A
on them from interested parties. In total, three directives two-week consultation period will now be undertaken,
having been published, namely: a telecommunications ending 11 May 2020, following which the ECA has
licensing directive; a consumer rights and protection said it will review all submissions and consider the
directive; and a dispute resolution directive. However, comments made in adopting the final directives.
the ECA has also revealed that it plans to release (April 29, 2020) commsupdate.com

98 APRIL 2020