Page 101 - SAMENA Trends - December 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

next year’s auction, two 50MHz blocks of 3500MHz licensing process, which the government hopes
spectrum are available from 1 December for localized to launch in Q1 2024 having recently reached an
private networks of companies and organizations, agreement to relocate satellite services occupying the
separate from the 300MHz tranche of 3.5GHz airwaves band. (December 1, 2023) www.government.nl
earmarked for the Netherlands’ 5G nationwide mobile

The Office of Electronic Communications (Urzad Telecoms regulator, the Office of Electronic
Komunikacji Elektronicznej, UKE) in Poland has issued Communications (UKE), is preparing to allocate 700MHz
3.5GHz spectrum to the winning bidders from its 5G spectrum next year which will be used to support 5G
frequency auction in October this year. Mobile network networks. A report cites UKE president Jacek Oko as
Poland operators (MNOs) Orange, Play, T-Mobile and Plus were saying that the award of 40MHz of spectrum will be
all successful in gaining 3.5GHz licenses and have
one of the authority’s main tasks in 2024. There has
now been issued 100MHz of spectrum. The first base been discussion over the past few years regarding the
stations supporting the new band are expected to go deployment of a single nationwide 700MHz 5G network
live early next year. which could be utilized by all operators on an open
(December 21, 2023) www.commsupdate.com access basis. (December 4, 2023) Inwestycje.pl

Arcep has revealed that four companies submitted applications for the award of spectrum in the 900MHz
applications for assignment of frequencies in the band in the French overseas territory of Reunion in
900MHz band in Reunion before the deadline, namely: September 2023. The regulator highlighted that 2×5MHz
Orange, SFR, Free Reunion (Telco OI) and Zeop Mobile. in the band is currently available for allocation, while an
Reunion Once the regulator has examined the applications, it additional 2×30MHz will be available from 1 May 2025.
Arcep will put up for auction seven blocks of 2×5MHz
will release the list of applicants eligible to participate
in the auction. The 900MHz spectrum will be awarded each, valid until 23 May 2037; the spectrum will come
via a tender that will take place in the coming weeks, with an obligation to cover all highways and main roads
with licenses scheduled to be issued in the second by 1 May 2028.
quarter of 2024 at the latest. Arcep launched a call for (December 8, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

The Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications Sall revealed the regulator had opened negotiations
and Posts (ARTP) announced that it has awarded a with other operators ‘to allow them, depending on the
5G license to Saga Africa Holdings (operating under means at their disposal, to be eligible for 5G’, with
the Free band), after the company agreed to pay the cost determined by the quantity and quality of the
Senegal XOF13.5 billion (USD22.5 million) for the extension to frequencies awarded. Free had agreed to pay XOF13.5
billion for 90MHz of 3500MHz spectrum, he explained,
its concession. Free becomes the country’s second
operator to be granted a 5G license, five months after whereas Sonatel had successfully bid a total of
Sonatel (Orange Senegal) bid a total of XOF34.5 billion XOF34.5 billion to secure 10MHz in the more expensive
for its authorization during the regulator’s tendering 700MHz band and five additional blocks of frequencies.
process. Free and rival Expresso had submitted bids of The regulator also revealed Sonatel is planning to
XOF3 billion and XOF2 billion – far below the reserve launch a pilot 5G service in February 2024, ahead of a
price of XOF19.5 billion set by the ARTP. Speaking at a commercial launch the following May.
press conference, ARTP Director General Abdou Karim (December 19, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

The Federal Council has approved the release of of the economy. In particular, the council recognized
spectrum in the 3400MHz-3500MHz band for mobile the ‘valuable role’ that private networks have in the
private networks (MPNs – also known as campus optimization and automation of internal company
networks) from 1 January 2024. The council noted that processes and the benefit that such systems can have
Switzerland it had taken into account developments elsewhere in in sectors including logistics, retail, manufacturing and
Europe and was responding to the demands and needs healthcare.’ (December 1, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

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