Page 123 - SAMENA Trends - February 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Macedonia Delays 5G Input; Thailand Announces 5G Rollout

North Macedonian regulator the Agency for Electronic the deployment of its 5G network in the 700MHz band to extend
Communications (AEK) has extended the deadline for comments the service to rural areas in the second half of the year. Thailand’s
on the award of 5G frequencies in the country. Interested parties latest spectrum auction generated over $3.2 billion, far surpassing
have been asked to comment on the terms and conditions of the the government’s original expectations.
spectrum auction, the demand for spectrum, the optimal way
of allocating the airwaves, and a deadline consistent with the
operators’ return on investment. This follows requests for an
extension from operators Makedonski Telekom (Telekom) and
A1 Macedonia (Vip). The new date for input is 20 April, moved
from 6 March. The regulator plans to initially award 5G-suitable
spectrum in the 700MHz and 3.6GHz bands in the second half of
2020. By this time, DTAC plans to have at least some 5G broadband
services up and running. The Thai operator, also known as Total
Access Communication, plans to launch the services on its newly
acquired 26GHz band in selected locations by the first half of
2020, according to local press reports. The DTAC CEO Sharad
Mehrotra has been quoted as saying that his company will start

Chunghwa Telecom and Far EasTone Pay Extra to Secure Specific 5G

Frequencies

Taiwanese mobile network operators million for 600MHz in the 28GHz band – billion bid, as well as 400MHz at 28GHz
(MNOs) Chunghwa Telecom and Far offered TWD2.08 billion for the 3.42GHz- for TWD412 million. It is understood that
EasTone Telecommunications (FET) 3.51GHz block; this has been suggested to FET now aims to commercialize 5G in the
have spent a combined TWD4.11 billion be the optimal block as there should be no third quarter of 2020. With Taiwan Mobile
(USD135.2 million) to secure ‘optimal’ 5G second-harmonic frequency interference Company and Taiwan Star – the other
bandwidth, the Taipei Times reports. With from existing 4G networks. On the back of winning bidders in January’s auction –
the second phase of the country’s 5G the development, chairman Hsieh Chi-mau opting against paying additional monies
spectrum auction having been conducted confirmed the MNO’s 5G launch timeline, for their specific spectrum allocations,
at the end of last week, domestic operators saying: ‘Despite a higher-than-expected it was noted that the former will take the
bid to secure frequencies in optimal parts cost, our plan for 5G deployment remains 3.51GHz-3.57GHz block and the latter
of the 3.5GHz band, after they had failed to unchanged. We aim to launch 5G service in will be assigned the 3.30GHz-3.34GHz
reach an agreement on the positioning of July, based on which our customers will be block. Taiwan Mobile is now expected to
spectrum that had been won last month. able to watch the Tokyo Olympics in 4K and launch its 5G services in Q3 2020, while
For its part, Chunghwa Telecom – which VR.’ Meanwhile, FET spent TW2.03 billion Taiwan Star is looking to begin offering 5G
emerged as the biggest spender in the to secure a block of spectrum at 3.34GHz- connectivity ‘as soon as possible’.
first round, paying TWD45.675 billion for 3.42GHz; it had previously won 80MHz
90MHz in the 3.5GHz band and TWD618 in the 3.5GHz band with a TWD40.600

EU Commission Issues “5G Toolbox”, Allowing Huawei in 5G Rollout

The European Union has issued a set Commission’s 5G toolbox, Abraham been present in Europe for almost 20 years
of guidelines, referred to as the “5G Liu, Huawei Chief Representative to the and has a proven track record with regard
toolbox”, and allowed Huawei to continue EU Institutions, commented: “Huawei to security. We will continue to work with
participating in Europe’s 5G roll. The welcomes Europe’s decision, which European governments and industry to
guidance comes just a day after the British enables Huawei to continue participating develop common standards to strengthen
government officially approved Huawei’s in Europe’s 5G roll-out. This non-biased the security and reliability of the network,”
involvement in 5G networks in the United and fact-based approach towards 5G added Liu.
Kingdom. In a Huawei media statement security allows Europe to have a more
following the publication of the European secure and faster 5G network. Huawei has
123 FEBRUARY 2020