Page 96 - SAMENA Trends - December 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

REGULATORY ACTIVITIES BEYOND

THE SAMENA REGION

The State Assets & Participations Management year. Furthermore, Unitel’s 50% shareholder, Angolan
Institute (Instituto de Gestao de Activos e Participacoes state oil firm Sonangol (which itself also wholly owns
do Estado, IGAPE) has indicated that a planned part- fixed broadband operator MSTelcom), was expected
privatization of mobile market leader Unitel has been to begin IPO preparations in 2024, but the latest IGAPE
Angola delayed to 2025. In April 2023 Unitel was among disclosures indicate that the parent group’s IPO is
twelve firms earmarked by the government for initial currently scheduled for 2026. IGAPE is the trustee for the
public offerings (IPOs) on the Angolan Debt & Stock other 50% of Unitel’s shares. Another planned telecoms
Exchange (Bolsa de Divida e Valores de Angola, sector IPO, that of TV Cabo Angola, remains earmarked
BODIVA) under processes set to begin by the end of the to be completed in 2024. (December 1, 2023) Expansao

The Regulatory Authority for Broadcasting & Telecoms (with the minimum bid price ranging from EUR50,000
(RTR) has published the terms and conditions for its to EUR1.36 million, depending on the block). The usage
planned auction of nationwide frequency usage rights rights to the frequency blocks in the 25.5GHz-25.9GHz
in the 26GHz band and regional usage rights in the will be valid from 1 January 2025 to 31 December
Austria previously unassigned 3410MHz-3470MHz range, 2046, while the 26.5GHz-27.5GHz spectrum is valid
which went unsold for seven regions in 2019. Operators from the assignment date to 31 December 2046 and
interested in participating in the spectrum allocation the 3600MHz spectrum will be valid from assignment
procedure have until 12 February 2024 to submit an until 31 December 2039. Depending on the amount
application, with the auction expected to begin in March. of spectrum acquired, license holders will be required
Under the terms and conditions, the 26GHz spectrum to fulfil certain network coverage requirements, for
will be divided up into seven 1×200MHz blocks, ranging example operators with 200MHz of 26GHz frequencies
from 25.5GHz-25.9GHz and 26.5GHz-27.5GHz with a must supply service to at least ten locations by the
minimum bid price of EUR1.9 million (USD2.0 million) start of 2027, 30 by 2030 and at least 100 areas by the
per block, while the 3.6GHz spectrum is to be divided start of 2034, while licensees with 400MHz or more
into seven regional blocks, including two lots of are required to cover 20, 60 and 200 locations by those
1×10MHz, one block of 1×40MHz and four of 1×60MHz dates. (December 8, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

The National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) has generated BRL762.67 million (USD190.33 million),
formally cancelled the award of 46 pending spectrum with the now-defunct Nextel Brasil making the highest
licenses in the 1900MHz and 2.5GHz bands that were financial commitment of all of the bidders, pledging
auctioned back in December 2015. Due to a number BRL455 million for a block of 1800MHz spectrum
Brazil of withdrawals, the aforementioned concessions covering Sao Paulo and Greater Sao Paulo.
were still awaiting adjudication by the watchdog eight
(December 13, 2023) TeleTime
years on. The licenses will no longer be reauctioned as
planned, and no financial penalties will be incurred from The National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) has
companies that did not use their frequencies. Anatel confirmed that 3.5GHz licensees are able to activate
advisor Artur Coimbra said: ‘It cannot be ignored that 5G services in a further 623 municipalities from 4
[the auction process] gave rise to very complex and December, as per the recommendations of the Group
challenging technical solutions, potentially incompatible for the Implementation of Solutions for Interference
with the financial capacity of the providers. We placed Problems (GAISPI). The decision means that a total
PPPs [Prestadoras de Pequeno Porte/small providers] of 3,079 towns and cities have now been approved for
front and center in the telecom sector. Much of the 3.5GHz Standalone (SA) 5G use, equating to 172 million
success of the 5G auction was due to the wisdom Brazilians, or 81% of the population. Going forward, the
brought by this 2015 [auction process].’ Coimbra noted authorities are targeting 3,678 municipalities by June
that more than 20,000 regional spectrum lots were put 2024, while all 5,570 municipalities should have 5G
up for sale, which led to more than 100,000 bids and access by 2026. (December 1, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
a ‘tangle of resources. The so-called leftovers auction

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