Page 84 - SAMENA Trends - December 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

they blocked more than 30 million scam calls over the from industry and consumers on the long-term
last 12 months during trials of methods to combat the effectiveness and enforceability of Google’s suggested
problem. “The code is a unique and ground-breaking actions are due by 9 December. The company pledged
contribution to global regulatory efforts to prevent the not to employ users’ health data for advertising
harms caused by scammers”, Fiona Cameron, chair purposes for ten years, to address ACCC concerns
of the ACMA’s Scam Telecommunications Action over the access Google would gain to “unique and
Taskforce, said. “It is a holistic, end-to-end framework substantial” details. Google also committed to
for effective scam reduction activity”. Operators face maintain access for third parties including health and
penalties of up to AUD250,000 for failure to comply fitness apps to data collected on wearable devices, and
with the new code. (December 2, 2020) mobileworldlive.com maintain interoperability between non-Fitbit devices
and Android smartphones, again for periods spanning a
The Australian Competition and Consumer decade. All pledges would be enforceable by a court and
Commission (ACCC) opened a public consultation on Sims emphasized the body “has not decided whether
remedies offered by Google to alleviate competitive ot not it will ultimately accept any undertaking”. The
concerns raised by a proposed acquisition of Fitbit. company offered similar commitments to the European
In a statement, ACCC chair Rod Sims said feedback Commission to gain its clearance for the $2.1 billion
will assist in deciding “whether the behavioral remedy acquisition: the Commission last month extended the
proposed is capable of addressing our competition deadline for issuing its decision into early 2021.
concerns regarding the transaction”. Submissions (December 1, 2020) mobileworldlive.com

The National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL) previously reported by TeleGeography’s CommsUpdate,
has confirmed that it approved the takeover of in August Bordeaux was crowned as the winner
Sercomtel Telecomunicacoes by the Bordeaux Fundo following the privatization auction for Sercomtel. The
de Investimento em Participacoes Multiestrategia auction involved a modest upfront fee of BRL50 million
Brazil (Bordeaux Multi-Strategic Investment Fund) on (USD9.1 million) alongside an additional BRL80 million
7 December. The watchdog notes that the deal commitment. Subsequently, in November Bordeaux
had previously been given the green light by the was named as the winning bidder for Copel Telecom,
Administrative Council for Economic Defence following an 18-round auction. Copel confirmed that
(Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Economica, the final bidding price reached BRL2.395 billion.
CADE). The Bordeaux Fund is now free to complete (December 8, 2020) commsupdate.com
its takeover of 99.99% of the regional operator. As

The Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications prompted by a number of applications for frequencies
and Posts (ARCEP) has launched a public consultation in recent years, following an earlier decision to suspend
on the allocation of spectrum for the provision of allocations due to congestion in some spectrum bands
fixed internet services. The regulator has invited earmarked for fixed wireless connectivity. ARCEP is
Burkina comments from stakeholders regarding a range of considering using the following frequencies for WiLL
Faso issues, including: the frequency bands, technologies internet services: 1900MHz-1920MHz; 2300MHz-
2400MHz; 2500MHz-2690MHz; 2570MHz-2620MHz;
and duplexing mode (FDD or TDD) to be used; the
amount of spectrum and the size of the frequency 3300MHz-3400MHz; and 3400MHz-3600MHz. It has
blocks to be made available; the geographic coverage urged service providers to consider the availability of
of licenses; and the method adopted for allocating affordable terminals when selecting a band.
frequencies. The consultation will run until 5 January (December 2, 2020) commsupdate.com
2021. According to ARCEP, the consultation has been

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) argued the personal details collected by apps often
reportedly set out draft regulations designed to restrict went beyond the scope of their use. The guidelines
collection of personal user details by apps. Reuters are expected to cover close to 40 categories of apps,
reported CAC opened a public consultation on the including messaging, payments, shopping and taxi-
China proposed rules, seeking feedback by 16 December. booking services. China’s move to tighten app practices
The news agency stated the body is concerned is tipped to be part of broader government efforts to
about data protection and potential mismanagement curb tech giants’ dominance by outlining rules to tackle
of information by app companies. CAC reportedly anti-monopolistic behavior.(December 2, 2020) mobileworldlive.com
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