Page 111 - SAMENA Trends - August 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

data collected by the OTI will also form the basis of speeds as measured by the new body. Secondly, Subtel
a regular publication of statistics and service quality set standard ranges within which ISPs must guarantee
rankings, with the aim of providing users with more connection speeds. During peak hours, providers
information when selecting a service plan. Customers must guarantee 95% of the contracted speed for fixed
will also have access to an application that will allow connections and 90% for wireless connections, and for
them to measure their connection speed and inform off-peak hours the rates were set at 98% (fixed) and 93%
the regulator if the measurements falls short of the (wireless). For example, a customer with a 100Mbps
rates featured in their contract. Meanwhile, Subtel fixed broadband plan must receive download speeds
has established a series of quality requirements that of at least 95Mbps during peak hours and 98Mbps
must be met by all fixed and mobile internet service during off-peak hours. Finally, the regulations require
providers. Firstly, the regulator has established the that operators that fail to meet the above standards
definition of ‘broadband’ services to be 5Mbps for must offer users discounts or an adapted service
mobile connections and 25Mbps for fixed connections. plan, with such compensation to be proportional to
Operators are permitted to provide lower transfer rates the length of time that the service malfunctioned.
but must not advertise such offerings as ‘broadband’. Notably, customers’ download speed measurements
This definition will take effect during the first year of will be assumed to be correct – unless the provider can
the OTI’s operation, whilst from the second year the demonstrate otherwise – to ensure a greater level of
definition will be based on national average access protection for users. (July 23, 2020) commsupdate.com

The Colombian government is set to intensify bidders are now theoretically able to acquire both
its attempt to sell its 32.5% stake in Telefonica stakes and gain full control of the telco. As previously
Colombia (Movistar) – two years after its initial sale reported by TeleGeography’s CommsUpdate, on 13
attempt floundered. According to La Informacion, the July 2018 the Ministry of Finance issuing Decree 1215,
Colombia government will seek to exploit the recently approved setting the price of its 32.5% shareholding at COP2.3
Legislative Decree No. 811, which has opened the door trillion (USD800 million at that time, USD631 million
to the privatization of public companies, or companies using the current exchange rate). A total of 1.108 billion
in which the state has a significant participation. shares were to be sold via a two-step public offering,
The government’s commitment to selling the stake with the price set at COP2,075 per share, only for the
is likely to benefit Telefonica too; the Spanish giant process to be derailed by a lack of interest.
is committed to offloading all its business in Latin (July 22, 2020) commsupdate.com
America, except Telefonica Brasil. Any interested

The telecoms regulator, the Czech Telecommunication d) defined the obligation to lease frequencies in favour
Office (CTU), has launched a tender to award radio of support for so-called ‘Industry 4.0.’
frequencies in the 700MHz and 3400MHz–3600MHz e) defined development criteria for the rapid
bands, suitable for fifth-generation wireless services. development of new networks, including deadlines for
Czech In a press release dated 7 August, the CTU confirmed the coverage of motorway and railway corridors
f) set the conditions for the provision of Public
its intention to boost competition in a market that
Republic has long faced vocal criticism from politicians and Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR) communication
consumers for the high cost of mobile services. services on the basis of a future contract of the
Following its public consultation on its proposals, the Ministry of the Interior. Interested bidders have until
regulator has highlighted a number of key aims of the 30 September 2020 to submit applications to take part
tender. Specifically, it has: in the auction, the CTU said, however the proposals
a) reserved a comprehensive section of 2×10MHz in have been met with skepticism and criticism from the
the 700MHz band for new applicants for entry into the country’s mobile network operators (MNOs) O2 Czech
mobile market Republic, T-Mobile CR and Vodafone CR. In a statement
b) set spectral limits for both offered frequency bands, issued after the watchdog’s update, Vodafone criticised
taking into account the range of radio frequencies the CTU saying: ‘Given the mistakes and problems
already held by potential participants in the conditions, it can be expected that the auction
c) set the condition for the provision of national will result in clashes at courts and also the European
roaming services to existing mobile operators for the Commission’. Rival T-Mobile also raised concerns
benefit of new operators, provided that they meet the over the plan, which is seen as not well prepared, with
set conditions for the development of their own 5G spokesman Jiri Janecek quoted by Reuters as saying:
networks ‘We have to study the conditions and ponder our next

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