Page 142 - SAMENA Trends - February-March 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Mexico’s 700MHz open access network provider coverage. Furthermore, Red Compartida adds users
ALTAN Redes (Red Compartida) has reportedly signed in areas with little traffic, which gives sustainability to
an agreement with the government which will pave the network. Finally, we promote healthy competition
the way for the country’s three MNOs – Telcel, AT&T in these locations, which represents a benefit for end
Mexico and Movistar – to utilize its infrastructure in locations users.’ Red Compartida, which was launched in March
that are home to fewer than 5,000 inhabitants. 2018, currently covers more than 69 million Mexican
Salvador Alvarez, General Director of ALTAN Redes, citizens. Going forward, the network must cover 85%
commented: ‘It is a win-win [situation] for everyone, of the population by January 2022, 88.2% by January
since the operators can take advantage of ALTAN’s 2023 and 92.2% of the population by January 2024.
already installed infrastructure and bring connectivity (February 18, 2021) commsupdate.com
to their customers in areas where they did not have

Mobile operators in the Netherlands have sent a letter become valid on 1 September 2022. As per a Ministry
to Parliament criticizing the government’s plan for letter to parliament in December 2020: ‘[Regarding]
auctioning 5G 3.5GHz mobile licenses in Q1 2022, current [3.5GHz] users who still have a local license
Dutch press reported. The operators including KPN [with expiry dates up to] 1 September 2026, the
The and T-Mobile warned that the existing two-part auction Telecom Agency [Agentschap Telecom, AT] will set up a
plan ‘will yield unpredictable and perhaps undesired
migration plan … Fixing this migration plan is foreseen
Netherlands results’ while financial daily Financieele Dagblad noted in the first half of 2021, after which permit holders
that the operators fear that 5G auction costs will rise have until 1 September 2022 to complete the actual
too high. The auction is open to existing providers migration.’ However, the Ministry indicated that certain
and new market entrants. The 3.5GHz auction plan existing localized 3.5GHz operations would continue
prepared by the Ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate beyond this date, whilst across the northern part of the
Policy is scheduled for consultation this quarter, and Netherlands, an initiative remains ongoing to reclaim
after processing consultation responses the ministry the 3.5GHz band from its existing usage by the satellite
expects to publish the auction scheme before mid- communication interception station of the intelligence
2021 ahead of an application procedure in 2H21 and services located in Burum.
auction bidding in early 2022, with mobile licenses to (February 11, 2021) Telecompaper

MTN Nigeria has announced it has acquired 10MHz of September. MTN reported a mobile subscriber base of
spectrum in the 800MHz band from Intercellular Nigeria 77.4 million at the end of 2020, representing an overall
(InterC Network). The Nigerian Communications 38.4% share of the Nigerian wireless market.
Commission (NCC) has approved the transaction (March 3, 2021) reuters.com
Nigeria and has already assigned the frequencies to the
mobile market leader. MTN said the acquisition will The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has
significantly improve customer experience, in line with said it is yet to conclude license framework that will
its commitment to deliver excellent service quality to open telecoms market for the launch of Mobile Virtual
its subscribers. ‘Through this acquisition, we will be Network Operators (MVNO). Dr Ikechukwu Adinde,
better positioned to support the deepening broadband NCC Director of Public Affairs, made this known in a
penetration in the country,’ commented MTN Nigeria statement in Abuja last week. The commission was
CEO Karl Toriola, adding: ‘The added resources will also reacting to an online report which stated that the
greatly impact our customers’ experience providing organization had concluded work on the licensing.
even better internet connectivity. It is our goal to keep It categorically stated that such report was untrue,
finding ways to grant everyone access to a modern speculative, unfounded and should be disregarded
connected life.’ (March 15, 2021) commsupdate.com in its entirety by members of the public. “The MVNO
license framework, an important precursor to the
MTN Nigeria, the country’s largest mobile operator by licensing of this category of telecoms players, is not yet
subscribers, has revealed that it is at an ‘advanced concluded, contrary to the statement in the said media
stage’ in renewing its operating spectrum and license. report. “For the avoidance of doubt, the commission,
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on December 10, 2020, published on its official website,
has approved the renewal of the cellco’s 900MHz the first draft document on License Framework for the
and 1800MHz spectrum holdings, which are due to Establishment of Mobile Virtual Network Operators
expire on 31 August 2021, for a further ten years from in Nigeria. “The publication followed an industry

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