Page 113 - SAMENA Trends - August 2019

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

merger following the TDSAT’s order directing the DoT the recent move towards consolidation in the nation’s
to take the merger on record’. The DoT’s opposition to mobile sector, the DoT has sought to block or delay
the takeover was originally based on demands related many of the transactions by withholding approval until
to controversial one-time spectrum charges (OTSC), the companies involved submit bank guarantees for
the validity of which remains sub-judice. Throughout the disputed OTSC. (August 21, 2019) The Economic Times

The telecoms watchdog has issued a statement on Kosovo’s telecoms watchdog, the Regulatory
the cancellation of Z Mobile’s MVNO contract by Authority for Post and Electronic Communications
state-owned operator Telecom Kosovo (TK), assuring (Autoriteti Rregullator i Komunikimeve Elektronike
consumers that it is monitoring the situation and dhe Postare, ARKEP), has renewed the spectrum
Kosovo will take action to guarantee continuity of service for licenses of incumbent cellcos Telecom Kosovo (TK
customers. To that end, the Regulatory Authority for
– which operates under the Vala brand) and IPKO for
Post and Electronic Communications (ARKEP) has 20 more years. ARKEP Chairman Kreshnik Gashi said
instructed the companies not to take any unilateral that TK has had spectrum authorizations comprising
action that may harm customers. The regulator also 2×10MHz in the 900MHz band and 2×25MHz range
directed Z Mobile not to issue any new SIMs, enter new renewed, whilst IPKO’s concessions covering
contracts with customers or create new packages for 2×10MHz of 900MHz range spectrum and 2×20MHz
the moment. ARKEP went on to say that over the next in the 1800MHz band were also updated. State-owned
few days it would gather additional information from TK will pay EUR15.7 million (USD17.5 million) over ten
the two providers and analyze European practices instalments for its renewal, whist IPKO is expected to
on the matter. Last month TK chose not to renew its pay EUR11.7 million. The license renewal is the first
controversial MVNO contract with Z Mobile; the two phase of the regulator’s spectrum allocation program.
providers are involved in an ongoing legal dispute. The next stage is due to take place during H2 2019 and
(August 8, 2019) telegeography.com will feature the auctioning of unused frequencies in the
800MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, 2100MHz and 2600MHz
bands. (August 6, 2019) Koha

The Mexican government has selected state utility government’s Diario Oficial de la Federacion (DOF).
firm Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE) to oversee The unit will be in charge of extending fixed broadband
its ‘Internet para Todos’ initiative, via subsidiary infrastructure to parts of the country not yet covered by
CFE Telecomunicaciones. The decision was rubber- the country’s private operators.
Mexico stamped on 2 August, when it was included in the (August 6, 2019) telegeography.com

The Communications Regulatory Authority (Autoridade measure will enable it to offer frequencies to telcos
Reguladora das Comunicacoes, ARECOM) has for wireless broadband services without impacting TV
approved a new TV-White Space (TVWS) technical broadcasters which utilize spectrum in surrounding
standard to regulate the use of frequencies in the UHF bands.
470MHz-694MHz band. The watchdog says that the (August 12, 2019) telegeography.com
Mozambique

The Minister of Information and Communication towers nationwide. The new tower in Vergenoeg and
Technology, Stanley Simataa, has officially activated another in the nearby settlement of Helena have
Mobile Telecommunication’s (MTC) new 3G network now been switched on in phase one of the project,
tower in Vergenoeg Farm in the Omaheke region. which will initially extend overage to 80% of the
MTC, Namibia’s largest mobile network operator region’s population. Elsewhere, five towers have also
Namibia (MNO) by subscribers, plans to erect eight towers in been activated in the Tsumkwe constituency in the
the Omaheke Region as part of its 081Every1 project, Otjozondjupa Region, where another four are still under
which aims to provide network coverage to 100% of construction.
the Namibian population by constructing 524 network (August 12, 2019) New Era Live

113 AUGUST 2019