Page 85 - SAMENA Trends - December 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Superintendency of Telecommunications (SUTEL) as new operator participation; minimum bandwidth
has reportedly launched a consultation into spectrum requirements; and the possibility of a 5G wholesale
suitable for 5G use. The frequencies under discussion network deployed by state-backed Grupo ICE. The
include: 700MHz, 2300MHz, 3.3GHz-3.4GHz, 26GHz consultation was launched on 25 November and will
Costa Rica and 28GHz. The report says that the regulator is keen to run for ten days.
gauge industry stakeholder feedback on subjects such (December 1, 2020) El Financiero

Four bidders are confirmed for Cyprus’ upcoming under the Deputy Ministry of Innovation. Department of
5G mobile spectrum license auction scheduled Electronic Communications head George Komodromos
for 17 December 2020, namely Cyta (Cytamobile- told the Financial Mirror that delays in the process were
Vodafone), PrimeTel, Epic and Cablenet. Six 2×5MHz caused by extensions granted to interested parties for
Cyprus lots in the 700MHz band and eight 50MHz lots in the credit facilities because of the ‘very high’ reserve price
3.6GHz band are up for grabs, via four concessions for each license – CYP6 million (USD12.4 million) –
stipulating deployment of 5G networks covering 70% while further application extensions had been granted
of the population alongside all major highways by 31 after authorities received new guidelines from the EU
December 2025. The auction is being conducted by the on cybersecurity.
Department of Electronic Communications, currently (December 9, 2020) The Financial Mirror

There will be no fourth operator licensed in the Ethiopian suggestions regarding the RFP from would-be bidders,
telecoms market for at least ten years following the with the MoF and ECA expected to respond to those
initial introduction of competition, Addis Fortune in January 2021. A final version of the RFP, which will
reports, citing comments made by Brook Taye, a senior incorporate comments from the bidders, will then
Ethiopia advisor at the country’s Ministry of Finance (MoF). be released 29 January, with a final bid submission
With a tender for two new licensees having officially date of 5 March having been set. According to Brook,
gotten underway last week, the winning bidders will meanwhile, with the way in which the bid document
each receive 15-year concessions. According to Taye, outlines the technical and financial requirements said
the current plans are for a ‘two plus one approach’ to to be very objective and easy to measure, he said the
be followed once the market is opened up, and he noted bid evaluation team aims to complete the selection
that during earlier consultation meetings regarding the process and announce the winners less than a month
country’s liberalization plans, prospective bidders had after the closing date. ‘We expected to announce the
requested between three to five years before any further winners in March,’ the advisor added.
entrants were permitted. However, it would appear a (December 3, 2020) commsupdate.com
longer period is being envisaged by the authorities, with
Taye noting that a market dynamics study conducted by A request for proposals (RFP) for the award of two
the MoF and the Ethiopian Communications Authority new telecoms licenses in Ethiopia has been launched
(ECA) had concluded that the market could work with by the Ethiopian Communications Authority (ECA). In
three operators for a decade, with the advisor saying: issuing its tender notice the ECA noted that companies
‘With fair and equitable profit the market can absorb interested in receiving the RFP documentation, which
three companies for ten years.’ Meanwhile, in return contains ‘all details and instructions pertaining to the
for the grace period it was noted that the winning submission of proposals, including the qualification
bidders will be subject to coverage requirements, with criteria and conditions for eligibility to participate’,
these including reaching 98% of the population with must send a written request by 10 December 2020.
voice and text message services within five years. Beyond that, the ECA has confirmed that it will accept
Failing to achieve these coverage targets will, Brook applications for one of the new licenses, made in
said, ‘result in a sanction’.mAs previously reported by accordance with the guidelines presented in its RFP
CommsUpdate, a request for proposals (RFP) for the documentation, until 5 March 2021. As previously
award of two new telecoms licenses was launched by reported by CommsUpdate, under a framework for
the ECA last week, with interested parties given until 10 the liberalization and development of the Ethiopian
December to submit a request for the documentation telecoms sector, the ECA plans to award two nationwide
and state their intent to take part in the bidding full service licenses through a competitive bidding
process. Following this, 25 December has reportedly process.
been set as a deadline for the receipt of questions and (December 1, 2020) commsupdate.com

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