Page 97 - SAMENA Trends - December 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Communications Regulatory Commission (CRC) 842MHz-852MHz/801MHz- 811MHz
has concluded its procedure for granting use of radio Yettel:723MHz-733MHz/778MHz-788MHz and
frequency spectrum in the 700MHz and 800MHz bands, 852MHz-862MHz/811MHz-821MHz
pursuant to Decision No. 699 of 4 October 2023. The Provision of spectrum in these frequency bands will
Bulgaria regulator has adopted Decisions No. 343/28.11.2023, provide an opportunity to build new generation networks
344/28.11.2023 and 345/28.11.2023 granting spectrum
and provide innovative broadband services in sparsely
in the two bands to A1, Vivacom and Yettel Bulgaria for populated areas, the CRC said. With the issuance of
a period of 15 years. The trio secured 10MHz of paired the permits, the prerequisites will be created for the
spectrum in the 700MHz band and 2×10MHz in 800MHz fulfilment of one of the goals of the ‘Digital Decade’
band each, as follows: initiative to cover all populated areas with high speed
A1: 703MHz-713MHz/758MHz-768MHz and 832MHz- 5G mobile networks, in accordance with the principle of
842MHz/791MHz-801MHz technological neutrality.
Vivacom: 713MHz-723MHz/768MHz-778MHz and (December 1, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

Innovation, Science & Economic Development Canada • Telus, which bought 1,430 licenses, paying CAD619.64
(ISED) announced the conclusion of the country’s million
3800MHz 5G spectrum auction, resulting in 4,099 • Bell Canada (939 licenses, CAD518.07 million)
licenses awarded to 20 bidders, including 870 licenses • Rogers Communications (860 licenses, CAD474.77
million)
Canada to small and regional providers. ISED stated that when • Videotron (305 licenses, CAD298.90 million)
combined with the previous 3500MHz auction of
2021, small and regional providers have doubled their • Cogeco (bidding via Elite General Partnership) (99
spectrum holdings, further strengthening their ability licenses, CAD190.29 million)
to offer competitive services, adding that 3800MHz • Wightman Telecom (bidding via NE&W SPC) (38
licenses will support faster deployment of high quality licenses, CAD17.65 million)
5G network services in every part of the country so • SaskTel (45 licenses, CAD10.19 million)
consumers and businesses, including those in rural and • Eastlink (Bragg Communications) (187 licenses,
remote regions, can enjoy the transformative benefits CAD9.95 million)
of the latest mobile and fixed wireless broadband • Novus (one license, CAD6.34 million)
technologies. The auction began on 24 October • Sogetel (16 licenses, CAD4.39 million)
2023 with 22 qualified bidders, and bids ended on 24 • Cooptel (eight licenses, CAD2.44 million)
November with winners purchasing licenses valued at • HuronTel (six licenses, CAD2.03 million)
CAD2.16 billion (USD1.59 billion) in total, which will be • Bruce Telecom (two licenses, CAD1.19 million)
paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund administered • Tbaytel (26 licenses, CAD791,000)
by the Receiver General of Canada. 95% of licenses • CityWest (71 licenses, CAD381,000)
on offer were sold, including licenses in all service • Ecotel (46 licenses, CAD347,000)
areas classed as ‘rural/remote’. Concessions permit • ABC Internet (15 licenses, CAD250,000)
mobile or fixed wireless services and carry deployment • NWIC Inc. (two licenses, CAD49,000)
obligations that require companies to ‘use or lose’ the • Indigitel (two licenses, CAD24,000)
spectrum within set timelines. • MPVWIFI (one license, CAD3,000).
The list of 3800MHz license winners includes: (December 1, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

The government of the Central African Republic is consultant will be required to assess the regulatory
looking for a firm to provide technical assistance to the framework and implementation of the universal service
Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications strategy; identify issues hindering implementation
and Postal Services (Autorite de Regulation des of the UAF; perform an inventory of the country’s
Central Communications Electroniques et de la Poste, ARCEP), mobile network coverage and infrastructure; identify
projects to further universal service and propose a
reports Digital Business Africa. The successful applicant
African will notably help the telecoms watchdog operationalize multi-year plan to operationalize the fund; and define
Republic the Universal Access Fund (UAF). The call for tender a new UAF strategy adapted to the country’s electronic
is being financed by the International Development communications market. Expressions of interest must
Association under the Public Sector Digital Governance be submitted no later than 15 December 2023.
(PGNSP) project. Amongst other things, the selected (December 12, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

97 DECEMBER 2023