Page 147 - SAMENA Trends - February 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency the demands that were presented, especially those
(Agencia Nacional de Telecomunicacoes, Anatel) has of the Prestadoras de Pequeno Porte (PPP – ‘small
revoked the mobile termination rates (MTRs) set for providers’), which may be part of the development of
the period between 2020 and 2023 – as established this new technology.’ Other details under discussion
Brazil in December 2018 – and replaced them with lower relate to the proposed make-up of the spectrum
interconnection charges. The regulatory change of blocks on offer, i.e. whether to divide the 26GHz band
heart follows appeals from a number of operators, into 400MHz blocks (five national and three regional)
including Claro Brasil. The America Movil (AM)-backed or 200MHz blocks (ten national and six regional). In
telco had argued that Anatel had used ‘inaccurate’ addition, existing 700MHz license holders are expected
data in its calculations, and the figures would have a to be prohibited from bidding on the 2×10MHz block of
heavy impact on its unlimited tariffs. As per Analysis spectrum in that band.
6/2020, the regulator has now redefined the MTRs (February 11, 2020) commsupdate.com
for each of the country’s three operating regions. The
2020 MTR for Region 1 has now been reduced from The Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology,
BRL0.01863 (USD0.00429) per minute to BRL0.01338, Innovations and Communications (MCTIC) has
while the Region 2 2020 MTR has been lowered from published a set of guidelines for the country’s imminent
BRL0.02128 per minute to BRL0.01503, with Region 5G spectrum auction in the Federal Official Gazette.
3 rates decreasing from BRL0.04342 to BRL0.02687. The auction – which will be staged by the National
MTRs for all Regions are scheduled to increase slightly Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) – will include
between now and 2023, although the rates remain far spectrum in the 700MHz, 2.3GHz, 3.5GHz and 26GHz
lower than those initially established in 2018. The new bands.
2020 MTRs will take effect on 25 February. The MCTIC’s guidelines include:
(February 19, 2020) commsupdate.com • Mandated 4G access in all rural towns with a
population greater than 600.
Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency (Agencia • Coverage of all federal highways with mobile
Nacional de Telecomunicacoes, Anatel) has initiated a broadband.
public consultation regarding its planned 5G spectrum • The deployment of fiber-optic transport networks in
auction. The consultation was launched on 6 February all municipalities not yet served.
and will run for 45 days. The auction process, which • Encouragement to share active and passive
was recently approved by the Brazilian Ministry of infrastructure, including towers, ducts and conduits.
Science, Technology, Innovations and Communications • The establishment of ‘activation deadlines’ to ensure
(Ministerio da Ciencia, Tecnologia, Inovacoes e the prompt rollout of services, with a provision for
Comunicacoes, MCTIC) will include spectrum in the unused spectrum to pass to third parties if the
700MHz, 2300MHz, 3.5GHz and 26GHz bands. Key conditions are not met.
items included in the new consultation include the In addition, the document defines criteria for the
provision of extra 3.5GHz frequencies, which will be protection of users who currently receive free satellite
restricted to regional operators. The watchdog notes: TV signals in the C band, which is adjacent to the
‘With the addition of more bandwidth, in what will be 3.5GHz band. Winning bidders of the 3.5GHz band
the main band for the development of 5G [i.e. 3.5GHz], must meet any costs associated with eliminating
it will be possible to meet more comprehensively interference. (February 6, 2020) telecompaper.com

Telecoms regulator the Belgian Institute for Postal of 15MHz duplex (2520MHz-2535MHz/2640MHz-
Services and Telecommunications (BIPT) has 2655MHz) remained unsold. No additional legislative
announced plans to make the remaining free spectrum action is required to make the free spectrum available
in the 2600MHz band available for auction. The decision through a new auction and the holder of this final
Bulgaria is in response to a request for a license in the band license, which will be valid for 15 years from 2020
from an unnamed company and increasing market to 2035, will be able to set up a national 2600MHz
demand for spectrum. The allocation of this spectrum network. The spectrum cap of 2×20MHz means
is based on the Royal Decree of 22 December 2010 existing license holders in this band are excluded.
on radio access in the 2500MHz-2690MHz frequency Proximus and Orange already have 2×20MHz in this
band, as well as the current Article 30 of the Electronic band and Telenet 2×15MHz. The minimum price for the
Communications Act of 13 June 2005. Spectrum in this license is EUR15.01 million (USD16.3 million) and will
frequency band was initially put up for auction in 2011 not be subject to specific coverage conditions.
during the country’s first 4G auction, but one block (February 21, 2020) telecompaper.com

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