Page 139 - SAMENA Trends - February-March 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has ‘Most importantly, the new legislation will require
amended the terms of telecommunications licenses, provisions that relate to M2M communication and
altering the rules regarding procurement of equipment IoT. The current legislation regulates the interface of
on national security grounds. The new clause persons with each other and with machines. However,
India requires that providers only source certain categories for interfaces between a machine and machine, there
of equipment from specified ‘Trusted Sources’, are gaps.’ Alongside M2M/IoT, the DoT has identified
empowering the National Cyber Security Coordinator several other issues that should be addressed by the
(NCSC) to determine which types of equipment new legislation, including net neutrality and consumer
must follow these guidelines, and which vendors are rights. The official added that the NLU team is also
considered Trusted Sources. The new rules take effect working on draft laws for telecom infrastructure and
from 15 June 2021 and from that date operators must right of way (RoW) rules for network development,
only connect ‘Trusted Products’ in their network and whilst matters such as spectrum allocation and
must seek permission from the NCSC for permission security requirements – including vendor management
to upgrade existing equipment that is not designated a and authentication for access to sensitive information
Trusted Product. However, the directions do not affect and systems and – may also be addressed by the
ongoing annual maintenance contracts, or updates to legislative changes. (March 8, 2021) commsupdate.com
existing equipment already inducted in the network
when the rules take effect. India’s latest spectrum auction ended after two days of
The move has been seen as the government’s first bidding, raising a reported INR778 billion ($10.6 billion)
formal step towards locking Chinese vendors Huawei for the government, although the 5G-suitable 700MHz
and ZTE out of India amidst escalating tensions band was left untouched due to high reserve prices. The
between Beijing and Delhi. The Economic Times writes Economic Times of India (ET) reported the final figure,
that Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea (Vi) have existing while Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea released separate
contracts with Chinese vendors. An unnamed telecom statements to the Indian stock exchange confirming
executive was cited as saying that the new rules will the auction had come to an end. Bharti Airtel said it
force companies to put development plans on hold until committed a total of INR187 billion on 355.45MHz of
the government produces its list of Trusted Sources. In spectrum in sub-GHz, mid- and 2300MHz bands, which
a separate development, meanwhile, Telecom Minister it said gave it “the most formidable spectrum holdings
Ravi Shankar Prasad has told parliament that the in the country”. It explained sub-GHz would help it to
planned merger of state-owned telcos Bharat Sanchar improve deep indoor coverage in urban environments,
Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone while strengthening its mid-band holdings, helping it
Nigam Limited (MTNL) has been deferred due to to deliver 5G in the future. Vodafone Idea did not reveal
financial reasons. The official added, however, that exact details, only stating it had bought spectrum in
‘close cooperation and service integration’ between five circles to help further accelerate 4G coverage and
the two firms has already begun. capacity. ET reported the pair and Reliance Jio had
(March 11, 2021) commsupdate.com mostly bought spectrum to renew permits due to expire
in July. However, spectrum in the 700MHz band found
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has no takers, similar to the country’s auction in 2016.
reportedly proposed replacing the nation’s telecom Airtel explained the band “did not get any bid from
legislation with new rules that are more in line with the operators as it made no economic sense for them
current developments in the sector, Mint writes, citing based on the high reserve price”. It added 700MHz,
senior officials. The ministry is looking to replace the coupled with 3.5GHz, had the potential to accelerate
Indian Telegraph Act (1885) and the Indian Wireless “India’s progress to the top league of digitally-enabled
Telegraphy Act (1933) before the launch of 5G, with a nations, therefore the reserve pricing of these bands
view to addressing gaps in the legislation that could must be addressed on priority in the future”. Vodafone
hamper the adoption of 5G. DoT Secretary Anshu Idea said as the industry readies 5G in India, it was
Prakash was quoted as saying that the government has hopeful a “large quantum of spectrum in harmonized
tasked the National Law University (NLU), Delhi, with bands” would be made available to operators at fair
studying the Acts and suggesting potential changes: prices. (March 2, 2021) mobileworldlive.com

The Communications Regulatory Authority (AGCOM) which paid high prices for 3.5GHz spectrum in the
has opened a public consultation into the extension October 2018 5G license auction had complained that
of 3.5GHz licenses for wireless broadband services. existing wireless broadband licensees Aria (now part
In November 2019 an Italian court backed an AGCOM of Fastweb), Linkem, GO internet and Mandarin were
Italy decision to extend existing 3.5GHz permits for six being allowed to utilize frequencies in neighboring
bands for a fraction of the cost of their own 5G permits.
years to end-2029, but it said that the financial
side of the extension would need clarifying. Cellcos (March 1, 2021) commsupdate.com
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