Page 115 - SAMENA Trends - August 2019

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

undermine the operations of another licensee in a way ongoing regulatory intervention is a consumerist move
that is capable of negatively impacting on the health of on our part as a regulator and we appeal to telecoms
the industry.” Interconnect debts among licensees to consumers for their understanding as we work with
accumulate without ensuring settlement is dangerous operators to resolve the matter,” Danbatta said.
for our industry and for the telecoms consumers. The (August 4, 2019) thenationonlineng.net

The Philippines’ Department of ICT (DICT) has signed meetings to address the challenges with the rollout
a partnership agreement with the United Nations and investigate potential solutions. The DICT sought
Development Program (UNDP) aimed at fast-tracking the assistance of the UNDP in September last year to
the deployment of free Wi-Fi access in public places. expedite the project and aid in the capacity-building
Philippines Under the agreement, the UNDP will provide support initiatives of the companies involved in the rollout. A
formal signing ceremony was held last week during the
for the government’s Pipol Konek – Free Wi-Fi Internet
Access in Public Places Project. The UNDP will first project board meeting. “Today as we set to seal
conduct area-based network analysis of target sites, this meeting of minds, the Department is optimistic
oversee monitoring of project impact, and continue that our goals of providing free Internet access and
to provide technical training to stakeholders involved promoting knowledge-building among our citizens will
in the rollout. The UNDP and the DICT will meanwhile soon be realized,” DICT Acting Secretary Eliseo M Rio
jointly take charge of project oversight. The project Jr. said at the signing ceremony.
participants plan to hold workshops and consultative (April 1, 2019) telecomasia.net

Poland’s Office of Electronic Communications (Urzad the move, including claims that UKE is simply looking
Komunikacji Elektronicznej, UKE) has decided to to maximize government revenues from the sale of
allocate 5G-capable spectrum in the 3.4GHz-3.8GHz 3.5GHz frequencies, the regulator says that an auction
range via a competitive auction rather than a tender is the fairest method of allocation and allows operators
Poland process. A report from Gazeta Wyborcza says that room for maneuver, given that the sale will not be
divided into evenly sized spectrum blocks.
the decision was reached following ‘consultation with
the market’. While there has been some criticism of (August 29, 2019) telegeography.com

Portuguese digital-terrestrial TV broadcasters will have earnest in January in southern Portugal, with other
to vacate the 700MHz band in a process that is set to regions completing the switch in a phased way, ending
begin in January and will take place over approximately with migration in the Azores and Madeira in June. The
six months, according to a timetable set by regulator watchdog has composed a draft DTT decision that sets
Portugal ANACOM. ANACOM, like other European regulators, is out the technical changes that platform operator Meo/
clearing 700MHz spectrum to make way for 5G mobile
Altice Portugal will have make to the DTT network, and
services. The European Parliament and Council have also calls for a pilot to be launched in the second half
required EU member states to complete the process of of November to assess the actions needed to support
700MHz migration by June 30 next year. ANACOM has users. According to ANACOM, some DTT users will
chosen to complete the process maintaining current need to retune their reception equipment but will not
DTT technology, without the need for a simultaneous be required to reorient their terrestrial antennas. The
transmission period. The regulator has maintained regulator has called for support for users to clarify
that its decision to stick with the current generation and resolve difficulties, including face-to-face support
of DTT technology still leaves room for the future for older TV viewers and those experiencing difficulty
enlargement of the DTT offering in Portugal, and has understanding the steps required to continue viewing
said there is still capacity available to create two services, and is collaborating with the agencies to
additional standard definition channels to be added ensure this.
to the current line-up. The migration will kick off in (August 26, 2019) digitaltveurope.com

115 AUGUST 2019