Page 112 - SAMENA Trends - August 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

steps, including possible charges’. Only last month, to bidders and hinder the rollout of 5G technology.
O2 Czech Republic had lodged a complaint with the Novak confirmed his resignation saying: ‘I cannot sign
European Commission over some of the terms and under auction conditions that in my deep conviction
conditions of the auction. As previously reported by will not improve the competitive environment in the
CommsUpdate, in January 2020 CTU chief executive Czech market, they will jeopardize the target of rapidly
Jaromir Novak quit over government modifications introducing 5G networks and they will likely lead to a
to the upcoming auction of 5G-suitable spectrum, number of court disputes.’
believing the last minute changes could be a turn-off (August 10, 2020) commsupdate.com

As part of a stakeholder consultation on two new the country in recent years and should be able to
regulatory directives, the Ethiopian Communications profit from leasing towers to any new operators that
Authority (ECA) said it was taking the ‘unusual step’ of are licensed. According to the report, the Ethiopian
reissuing the English versions of the final draft versions. government has now decided to suspend the entry of
Ethiopia In publishing the ‘Telecommunications Interconnection foreign infrastructure companies after Ethio Telecom’s
Directive’ and the ‘Telecommunications Infrastructure management filed a complaint letter seeking state
and Collocation Directive’ in both Amharic and English, intervention in the matter. Commenting on the
the regulator said it had opted to release updated development, Ethio Telecom’s Chief Executive Frehiwot
versions of the latter – having originally published Tamiru said: ‘The government has decided not to allow
drafts on 3 August – so as to incorporate helpful foreign telecom infrastructure companies. They will not
comments it had received from stakeholders since that be allowed to operate here … We have built sufficient
date. Meanwhile, the ECA has also now confirmed a telecom infrastructures like fiber cables and mobile
closing date for the consultation, with interested parties base masts that we can rent it to the newly entering
directed to make any submissions by 12 September companies. So, the incoming telecom operators will
2020. (August 24, 2020) commsupdate.com either use our existing infrastructure by renting or
build their own.’ Meanwhile, Ethio Telecom was also
With Ethio Telecom having argued against foreign said to have written a letter to the ECA expressing
infrastructure companies being allowed to enter the concerns over the ongoing privatization process of the
country and build new infrastructure that could be incumbent, though it is still awaiting a response. ‘We
leased to any new operators that are licensed, it looks do not believe that the authority will take any action
set to get its way. The attempts by the Ethiopian that could jeopardize Ethio Telecom’s existence,’ said
Communications Authority (ECA) to bring in foreign Ms. Frehiwot of the matter of privatization, adding: ‘But
telecom infrastructure firms were said to have angered there are still some issues that we have not agreed on.’
the incumbent, whose executives had argued that it (August 11, 2020) The East African
had spent billions of dollars on infrastructure across

The communications regulator opened a consultation dynamically and suitable frequencies are a crucial
on the future use of spectrum allocated at its 4G resource for further development. We are therefore
auction in 2010, ahead of licenses for the frequencies starting to clarify questions about the provision of
entering their last five years of validity. In its Frequency frequencies for mobile communications from 2026
Germany Compass 2020 document, Bundesnetzagentur said it onwards. We also keep an eye on the interests of other
user groups”. Between Vodafone Germany, Telefonica
wanted to ensure there was not a “standstill in network
expansion” caused by licenses allocated in 2010 for Deutschland, Deutsche Telekom and the now defunct
blocks in the 800MHz, 1800MHz and 2.6GHz bands E-Plus, operators spent a total of €4.4 billion in the
expiring at the end of 2025. It added addressing the 2010 spectrum auction. Five years later operators
issue early should ensure holders were given the splashed a further €5 billion on new allocations as 4G
greatest level of legal security to allow future planning. build-out continued. Licenses for these blocks expire
The initial consultation closes on 23 October with at the end of 2033. (August 20, 2020) mobileworldlive.com
interested parties invited to submit comments on future
use of the frequencies. To make its final decision on the The German Federal Network Agency has published
fate of the assets the regulator will assess comments, a draft catalogue of security requirements for the
interests of third parties, and rules set out in the operation of telecommunications and data processing
country’s upcoming amended telecommunications act. systems for personal data. The catalogue was drafted
In a statement, Bundesnetzagentur President Jochen in cooperation with the Federal Office for Information
Homann said: “Mobile communications are developing Security and the Federal Commissioner for Data

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