Page 133 - SAMENA Trends - February-March 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Telecoms regulator the Belgian Institute for Postal Telecoms regulator the Belgian Institute for Postal
Services and Telecommunications (BIPT) has adopted Services and Telecommunications (BIPT) has
a decision on the tariffs that alternative operators confirmed the 2G and 3G spectrum licenses held by
must pay to use Proximus’ fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) Orange Belgium, Proximus and Telenet will be extended
Belgium GPON network (Bitstream Fiber GPON reference for a six-month period until 14 September 2021 to
offer). Based on a cost model developed with the ensure continuity of services. The permits were due
help of a specialized partner, the regulator concluded to expire on 15 March 2021 but the government’s
that Proximus’ proposed tariffs are fair – i.e. they do plan to auction spectrum in the bands along with 5G
not exceed the costs of an efficient operator plus a frequencies in the 700MHz and 3.5GHz bands has
reasonable margin (between 2.5% and 5% depending on faced lengthy delays and is now expected to be staged
connection speed) – and will allow competition to the in early 2022. The operators are liable for a one-off fee
benefit of end-users while safeguarding the incentive of EUR51,644 (USD63,332) per MHz per month for the
to invest in the rollout of optical fiber. Full details of the 900MHz and 1800MHz bands and EUR20,833 per MHz
approved tariffs, which apply to areas where Proximus per month for the 2100MHz band, payable by 31 March
plans to deploy optical fiber on its own and not via joint 2021. This means Proximus will pay around EUR11.4
ventures, can be found on the BIPT’s website. million per month, Orange EUR10.9 million and Telenet,
(March 10, 2021) commsupdate.com which gave up a portion of its 900MHz and 1800MHz
frequencies, EUR8.4 million. (March 1, 2021) commsupdate.com

The Regulatory Authority (RA) is looking to open by 31 December. Further, the company was instructed
enforcement proceedings against East End Group not to fall behind on its fees payments in future.
(EEG) companies Telecommunications Networks Similar instructions were issued to TNL, with RA chief
Ltd (trading as East End Telecom) and its subsidiary executive Denton Williams warning the companies
Bermuda TeleBermuda International (TBi) over their failure that failure to comply could result in fees of up to
to pay overdue regulatory fees. In giving notice of BMD5,000 (USD5,000) per day for non-compliance.
enforcement proceedings, RA said it had issued On its website, RA confirms that it ‘seeks to determine,
‘binding’ instructions to both firms on 18 November by conducting an informal adjudication’ whether the
2020 concerning outstanding quarterly fees. TBi pair have ‘contravened certain statutory provisions
was instructed to pay half of all owed fees (including requiring the payment of fees to the Authority’.
arrears) within seven days, with the balance to follow (March 8, 2021) commsupdate.com

The National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL) band. In addition, the news agency reports that the
has approved a proposal to open the complete watchdog has paved the way for Huawei Technologies
5925MHz-7125MHz (6GHz) band for unlicensed Wi- of China to participate in the rollout of commercial 5G
Fi 6E access. According to the watchdog, the use of networks, ending speculation that the vendor would be
Brazil the 6GHz band for Wi-Fi could unlock huge economic prohibited from playing a part in the process. President
benefits, potentially helping to contribute a staggering Jair Bolsonaro has previously criticized the Chinese
USD112.1 billion to Brazil’s GDP between 2021 and company and was under pressure from the former
2030. Industry advocacy group the Dynamic Spectrum Trump administration to ban Huawei, citing security
Alliance (DSA) notes that fellow Latin American nations concerns. The threat prompted Brazil’s telecom
Colombia, Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, Peru and companies to complain that by excluding Huawei it
Argentina are all expected to make decisions on the would cost them billions of dollars to replace existing
future of the 6GHz band later this year. equipment; they collectively estimated that the Chinese
(March 5, 2021) commsupdate.com company supplies around 50% of their respective 3G
and 4G infrastructure. According to TeleGeography’s
Plans to stage Brazil’s long-awaited 5G spectrum GlobalComms Database, back in February 2020 the
auction continue to gather pace, with the National Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovations and
Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL) approving Communications (Ministerio da Ciencia, Tecnologia,
certain 5G-related rules yesterday (25 February). While Inovacoes e Comunicacoes, MCTIC) provided its own
the full rules have not yet been disclosed publicly, approval of the 5G auction process. The spectrum sale,
Reuters reports that participating operators will which will include frequencies in the 700MHz, 2.3GHz
be obliged to deploy Standalone (SA) 5G networks and 3.5GHz bands, as well 26GHz millimeter wave
by 2022, rather than relying on dynamic spectrum (mmWave) spectrum, has been delayed by the ongoing
sharing (DSS) technology, which enables the parallel COVID-19 pandemic, but is expected to take place
operation of 4G and 5G services via one frequency before end-June 2021. (February 26, 2021) commsupdate.com
133 FEB-MAR 2021