Page 144 - SAMENA Trends - February-March 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Media, said: ‘We will definitely agree on a transitional internet access even for the smallest time.’
period and will not allow citizens to be left without (March 9, 2021) commsupdate.com

Expresso Senegal, the country’s third largest cellco network in March 2020. (March 1, 2021) commsupdate.com
by subscribers, has obtained a 4G LTE license from
the Authority of Regulation of Telecommunications Senegal’s Authority of Regulation of
and Posts (L’Autorite de Regulation des Telecommunications and Posts (L’Autorite de
Senegal Telecommunications et des Postes, ARTP). ‘After Regulation des Telecommunications et des Postes,
several months of negotiations, the ARTP and the
ARTP) has ordered Expresso Telecom to relaunch fixed
operator Expresso Senegal, a subsidiary of Sudatel telephony services or face sanctions. In a letter sent
Group, have reached an agreement for the deployment on 11 February, the regulator reminded Expresso that
of the 4G license in Senegal as soon as possible,’ it is required to provide such services under the terms
the regulator announced in a press release. Under of its global license, and warned that it will be obliged
the deal, Expresso’s license will be extended to cover to take all necessary legal action unless the service
4G services for the duration of its concession. The is resumed within 30 days of receipt of the letter. The
announcement follows a meeting between Senegal’s regulator’s market reports indicate Expresso exited
President Macky Sall and Magdi Taha, Chairman and the fixed telephony sector in September 2018. Earlier
CEO of Sudatel Group. In February the ARTP criticized this month, Expresso was put on formal notice by the
Expresso’s lack of network investment and threatened watchdog that it could lose its operating license unless
to withdraw the operator’s license unless it took steps it improved services. The country’s third largest mobile
to improve services. Whereas rivals Orange and Free network operator by subscribers is accused of failing
have been offering LTE services since July 2018 and to fulfil service commitments contained in its license
October 2019, respectively, the COVID-19 pandemic specifications, following years of under-investment in
forced Expresso to postpone the launch of its own 4G its network. (February 17, 2021) commsupdate.com

Serbian ISP SBB has submitted requests to the The rapid introduction of 5G services is a prerequisite
Republic Agency for Electronic Communications for this.’ The government had initially intended to
(RATEL) and the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and hold an auction for the spectrum in March 2021, but
Telecommunications (Ministarstvo trgovine, turizma i has delayed the sale until the end of the year due to
Serbia telekomunikacija, MTT), urging the government to hold the pandemic. As part of its request, SBB submitted
a study it had conducted on the matter which it says
auctions for 5G spectrum., according to a statement
from the operator’s parent, United Group. SBB CEO argues that a multi-band 5G award would inject new
Milija Zekovic was quoted as saying: ‘SBB believes that competition into the market. The operator claims that
the conditions in the country have matured sufficiently the mobile services in Serbia are more expensive and
to start the auction. The time is right for Serbia to lower quality than those available in Austria, Slovenia
follow its EU neighbors and ensure its 5G future. We and Croatia, due to insufficient competition, arguing
must take full advantage of all the opportunities that that providers in Serbia have settled into a ‘cosy status
the development of a digital society means for citizens. quo’. (February 25, 2021) commsupdate.com

The Office for Regulation of Electronic Communications looking to auction spectrum between 3440MHz and
& Postal Services (Regulacny urad, RU) has opened 3800MHz by the end of this year. Bidders will be limited
a consultation into the award of 5G-capable 3.5GHz to a maximum of 100MHz each.
spectrum. Existing rights in that band expire between (March 18, 2021) commsupdate.com
Slovakia December 2024 and August 2025 and the regulator is

The Agency for Communications Networks & Services 2300MHz, 3.6GHz and 26GHz bands, with winning
(Agencija za komunikacijska omrezja in storitve, AKOS) bidders expected to be announced by mid-2021.
has received four applications in its 5G spectrum Slovenia’s mobile market is home to four incumbent
tender, though it has not named the bidders. Spectrum operators – Telekom Slovenije, A1 Slovenia, Telemach
is being offered in the 700MHz, 1500MHz, 2100MHz, and T-2. (February 17, 2021) commsupdate.com
Slovenia

144 FEB-MAR 2021