Page 138 - SAMENA Trends - February-March 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, deliver the services that you want for your customers,’
has indicated that the government is considering plans she told the Appointment Committee. Meanwhile, the
to introduce a unified licensing regime for telecom Minister also confirmed that the government is in the
operators, reports Myjoyonline. Answering questions process of taking over AirtelTigo, the country’s third
from the Appointment Committee of Parliament, Mrs. largest mobile network operator, after owners Bharti
Owusu-Ekuful said the move was in line with the Airtel and Millicom International Cellular indicated
administration’s goal to reduce the cost of internet last year that they wished to exit the Ghanaian market,
access for consumers, hinting that such an option reports Prime News Ghana. ‘The government is in
had become critical due to increasing data usage. the process of taking over AirtelTigo. It is something
The proposed licensing regime would allow telecom we will do quickly … In view of the importance of this
operators to acquire one set of licenses for both voice sector, the role it plays and the number of jobs that are
and data operations, rather than individual permits for supported by this entity, the government has decided
each spectrum band. ‘Moving forward, we will implement that in the short term it will take over the assets and
the unified licensing regime so that it doesn’t matter liabilities of AirtelTigo’, she told the appointment
whether you have a 2G, 3G or 4G spectrum license to committee. (February 16, 2021) commsupdate.com

Guyanese telecoms watchdog the Telecommunications Tobago, which it has already been authorized to land and
Agency has published details of the proposed install. The amendment also proposes the allocation of
amendments to the licenses of Guyana Telephone additional spectrum to the cellco for the provision of
and Telegraph (GTT), Digicel Guyana and E-Networks, mobile backhaul within Guyana, and for cross-border
Guyana as well as the exemption order signed by the Prime communications with Brazil and Suriname. Finally, the
Minister earlier this week to expedite the licensing of proposed amendment to GTT’s license also includes
ISPs. Stakeholders have until 8 March 2021 to submit the provision of extra spectrum for backhaul, as well as
comments regarding the planned amendments to additional airwaves in the 900MHz band (896.4MHz-
the telcos’ concessions, whilst the exemption order 902.2MHz/941.4MHz-947.2MHz). Regarding the
took effect immediately, on 19 February. As reported licensing of ISPs, meanwhile, the exemption order
by TeleGeography’s CommsUpdate earlier this week, establishes a new classification of provider, a ‘small
Guyana’s PM Mark Phillips signed an exemption order internet service provider’, defining it as a company
allowing around 50 small, local ISPs to bypass parts that does not operate a facility that would require a
of the licensing procedure to accelerate the process of license under Section 23(9) or Section 30(10) of the
issuing authorizations. At the same time, the official Telecommunications Act (i.e., the exemption does not
had commented that the government had received apply to companies that plan to operate international
and granted requests from the incumbent licensees cable or radio links). The order exempts small ISPs
to amend their concessions to enable them to expand from the requirement to obtain an individual license, or
their services. Specific details had not been published any other license that would be required by the Act, but
at the time. Under the proposals, E-Networks’ license the companies are still subject to all other obligations
will be adjusted to grant the ISP permission to land, covered by the Act. Notably, however, the exemption
install and operate a fiber-optic submarine cable that does not automatically apply to eligible firms and
will connect Guyana and Suriname for the provision companies must complete a written registration with
of redundant connectivity. Similarly, Digicel’s license the Telecommunications Agency to benefit from the
will be amended to allow the provider to operate a order. The exemption order is set to remain in effect for
submarine cable connecting Guyana and Trinidad and one year. (February 26, 2021) commsupdate.com

The Curia (Supreme Court) of Hungary has rejected further appeal permitted against the Curia’s decision,
an appeal by fixed and mobile network operator DIGI, issued on 4 February. The final verdict noted that DIGI
deciding that it was legal for the National Media & (Hungary) did not apply directly for the frequency
Infocommunications Authority (Nemzeti Media- es auction because of conditions which would exclude
Hungary Hirkozlesi Hatosag – NMHH) to exclude DIGI from it from participating, and therefore applied via its
parent company – Netherlands-registered, Romanian-
the procedure for selling 5G mobile frequencies. The
apex court agreed with a first-instance ruling from the listed Digi Communications – a move which the
Metropolitan Court in November 2020 dismissing a Curia called ‘deceptive’ and ‘against the purity’ of the
legal action from DIGI, which had opposed the NMHH’s auction procedure. One condition for participation
decision to exclude it from the country’s 5G frequency was that a bidding company must have no regulatory
license auction completed in March 2020 (resulting infringements against its name in the 24 months prior
in all three of DIGI’s main mobile rivals receiving to the start of the auction.
15-year 700MHz/3500MHz licenses). There is no (February 8, 2021) commsupdate.com
138 FEB-MAR 2021