Page 88 - SAMENA Trends - December 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

FCC Approves Transfer of all DISH Licenses to EchoStar

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved
the transfer of all licenses, authorizations and special temporary
authorities (STAs) held by DISH Network Corporation and its
subsidiaries to sister company EchoStar ahead of the planned
merger of the two companies. DISH and EchoStar were previously
part of the same company, EchoStar Communications Corp., but split
apart in 2008. Charles W. Ergen owns over 90% of the voting stock
of DISH and over 51% of the equity. He also owns approximately
93.5% of the voting stock of EchoStar and approximately 60% of
the equity. DISH and EchoStar entered into a merger agreement
to recombine on 8 August 2023. Pursuant to the terms of the
proposed transaction, DISH Network will be merged into Merger
Sub, a newly incorporated direct and wholly owned subsidiary
of EchoStar, with DISH Network Corp. surviving the merger as a
wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar. Ergen will beneficially own
more than 90% of the voting stock and approximately 54% of the
equity of the recombined company. According to FCC records, DBSD Satellite Services; Northstar Wireless; ParkerB.com Wireless;
the DISH subsidiaries holding FCC licenses are: Aevergreen; Alta SNR Wireless LicenseCo; South.com; Weminuche; Wetterhorn
Wireless; American AWS-3 Wireless I; American H Block Wireless; Wireless; and Window Wireless. DISH provides direct broadcast
Crestone Wireless; DBSD Corporation; dishNET Wireline; DISH satellite (DBS) services throughout the US and offers post-paid
Broadcasting Corporation; DISH Network; DISH Operating; DISH and pre-paid mobile services primarily through its Boost Mobile
Wireless; DISH Wireless Puerto Rico; EchoStar 77 Corp.; EchoStar brand. EchoStar, meanwhile, provides worldwide global satellite
Broadcasting Holding Corporation; EchoStar BSS Corporation; communications services under its own name and through Hughes
Gamma Acquisition; Little Bear Wireless; Manifest Wireless; New Network Systems.

EU Gives Green Light For €1.2 Billion Cloud Computing Funding

Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain. As part of the project, 19
companies including Deutsche Telekom, Telefónica Spain, Orange,
and Telecom Italia will undertake 19 projects, working closely
together to develop together the first EU-wide and interoperable
multi-provider cloud edge continuum in Europe. “The participating
Member States provide up to €1.2 billion in public funding, expected
to unlock an additional €1.4 billion in private investments,” said
Commissioner Didier Reynders (who is in charge of competition
policy) in the European Commission’s statement. “The IPCEI will
provide for highly ambitious research, necessary to enable the
uptake of innovative data processing applications and services
for European businesses, public administrations, and citizens,” he
The move aims to increase the EU’s presence in the global cloud continued. The Commission stated that at least 1,000 jobs are
computing market set to be created during the research and development phase of
The European Commission has this week agreed to provide €1.2 the project, which will run between 2023 and 2031. The image
billion in state funding for cloud computing. The funding will support below highlights the structure of the project. IPCEIs are designed
a European cloud computing project in an attempt to increase the to boost the economic growth and competitiveness of the EU
EU’s presence in the global cloud computing ecosystem. Currently, by combining research, finances, and business acumen across
the international cloud market is dominated by US firms, such as member states. The European Commission has approved six
Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure. The project, which is IPCEIs since 2018, with the projects covering batteries, hydrogen,
named IPCEI (Important Projects of Common European Interest) and microelectronics and communication technologies. The first
Next Generation Cloud Infrastructure and Services (IPCEI CIS) has results of the project are expected around 2027.
so far been backed by seven counties: France, Germany, Hungary,

88 DECEMBER 2023