Page 87 - SAMENA Trends - December 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Greece bid €130.1 million to secure 14 blocks in the The Greek government will hold its auction of
3.4GHz to 3.8GHz range; two blocks of 700MHz; four 5G-capable spectrum, with frequencies in the 700MHz,
blocks of 2GHz; and two blocks of 26GHz. Cosmote 2GHz, 3.4GHz-3.8GHz and 26GHz bands up for grabs.
spent €123 million for the same number of blocks All three incumbent cellcos – Cosmote, Vodafone and
in the latter three bands and 15 blocks at 3.4GHz to Wind – have already been cleared to participate in the
3.8GHz. Wind Hellas committed €119 million for ten sale, which is expected to be completed on the same
blocks from 3.4GHz to 3.8GHz; two at 700MHz; four at day. Kathimerini reports that the auction is expected to
2GHz; and one in the 26GHz band. net the government EUR367.3 million (USD445 million).
(December 18, 2020) mobileworldlive.com (December 15, 2020) commsupdate.com

Hungarian operator DIGI Hungary was confirmed next year. The regulator pledged after the auction it
to not be participating in the country’s upcoming will detail publicly what operators paid, and for which
spectrum auction, with its three main rivals Magyar frequencies in the 900MHz and 1,800MHz bands. DIGI
Telekom, Telenor, and Vodafone Hungary registering. Hungary previously said preliminary conditions set
Hungary In a statement, Hungary’s telecoms regulator by NMHH to qualify for the auction in the above band
Nemzeti Media- es Hirkozlesi Hatosag (NMHH) said
were “obstacles” that prevented it from participating.
it registered the three operators on December 17, The operator launched a petition, collecting 80,000
after they submitted formal interest in November 10, signatures to allow it to take part.
with the bidding process expected to commence early (December 21, 2020) developingtelecoms.com

The Indian government has approved plans for the next down payment of 25% to 50% of the end price, with the
round of spectrum sales, with a total of 2,251.25MHz balance to be cleared over 16 annual instalments after
to be put up for auction in March 2021, the Economic a two-year moratorium. In a separate development,
Times writes, citing a government statement. The meanwhile, the government has announced plans to
India frequencies span the 700MHz, 800MHz, 900MHz, restrict the vendors that can supply telecom equipment
1800MHz, 2100MHz, 2300MHz and 2500MHz bands – to operators in India. The Hindustan Times writes that
with the 5G-compatible 3300MHz and 3600MHz ranges the Cabinet approved the plans as part of a national
notably excluded from the sale – and have been valued security directive. Under the policy, the government
at a total of INR3.92 trillion (USD53.3billion), based will curate a list of ‘Indian trusted sources’ that will be
on the reserve prices set for the airwaves. Full details permitted to sell to operators in India. The move has
of the auction will be published along with a Notice been interpreted as a strike against Chinese vendors
Inviting Applications later this month. The high reserve ZTE and Huawei, as tensions between Beijing and
prices are expected to limit participation in the auction, Delhi have escalated in recent years. Additionally,
although the reduction in potential competitors for the though, the restriction may incentivize operators to
airwaves may encourage cellcos to purchase crucial source equipment from India-based suppliers, in line
frequency blocks at the reserve prices. Each of the with the current administration’s major policy goal
three-remaining privately-owned cellcos – Reliance of establishing India as a hub for telecom equipment
Jio Infocomm (Jio), Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea research, development and manufacturing.
Limited (VIL, offering services under the Vi brand) – (December 17, 2020) commsupdate.com
have licenses due to expire in the next few years, but
the auction is unlikely to see the intensity of bidding India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has
witnessed in the 2015 auction. Several participants accepted recommendations from sector watchdog
in that sale were facing ‘must-win’ situations where the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
failure to secure spectrum in certain circles would on ensuring the availability of adequate numbering
have forced them to shut down operations in those resources for fixed line and mobile services. As such,
areas, and the scarcity of available frequencies at the the DoT has instructed service providers to modify
time forced operators to battle for airwaves, driving the dialing pattern for calls from fixed to mobile
up prices. In the upcoming sale, however, there is numbers, requiring all calls from fixed lines to mobiles
sufficient spectrum available that operators should not to be prefixed with a ‘0’. The DoT’s order also requires
need to fight over the frequencies. Instead, the stressed operators to implement a system to play a message
financial status of the trio – in particular Vi – is likely regarding the change whenever a fixed line customer
to be the deciding factor in participation. As such, the dials a mobile number without the new prefix. The
government will allow winning bidders to submit a measures – which are set to take effect from 15 January

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