Page 154 - SAMENA Trends - February 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Minister of Information and Communication policy aims to provide broadband speeds of at least
Technology, Stanley Simaata, has officially launched 2Mbps to 95% of the population by 2024, promote
the country’s National Broadband Policy and the development of content and applications, reduce
Implementation Action Plan, first outlined in October the digital divide, and provide incentives for further
2019. Presenting the policy to a parliamentary standing investment in broadband deployment. Whereas the
Namibia committee on ICT and innovation, the minister described policy itself spans a ten-year period to 2029, the

broadband as a ‘technology that can fundamentally accompanying five-year implementation plan is
restructure an economy’, boosting GDP growth, jobs, designed to ensure effective delivery from the outset.
trade, service delivery and social development. The (February 18, 2020) commsupdate.com

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital registering SIM cards themselves, while the eventual
Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has directed registration should be done by the operators
telecoms regulator the Nigerian Communications • there should be a maximum number (potentially

Nigeria Commission (NCC) to revise the policy on SIM three) of SIM cards that can be tied to a single
registration and usage. The decision is based on
individual
feedback received from security agencies following • ensure that no unregistered SIMs are allowed on
the successful revalidation of improperly registered mobile networks
SIM cards in September 2019. The updated policy is • ensure that subscribers can easily check the number
expected to include the following provisions, among of SIM cards registered to their name, along with the
others: associated phone numbers and networks
• ensure that the National Identity Number (NIN) • ensure that mobile network operators protect their
becomes a prerequisite for Nigerians registering networks against Cyberattacks, and
new SIM cards, while already registered SIM cards • ensure that SIM cards that have been used to
are to be updated with NINs before 1 December 2020 commit crimes are permanently deactivated.
• ensure that only fully accredited agents support (February 7, 2020) commsupdate.com
the SIM card registration process without pre-

Peru’s Ministry of Transport and Communications was subsequently found to have been ineffective in
(MTC) has updated the terms for the upcoming spectrum achieving its goals, with changes in the market and the
auction, confirming that 30MHz of frequencies in the inflexibility of the governing regulatory structure blamed
2300MHz band will be sold along with 60MHz in the for the system’s shortcomings. The rapid construction
1700MHz (AWS-3) range. Successful bidders will be of rival networks and the commercial limitations of
Peru required to roll out fixed and mobile internet services to the RDNFO led to capacity on the network becoming
5,641 locations nationwide by 2022. The winners will overpriced in comparison to its competitors and the
also be obliged to provide connectivity to 599 public system was left under-utilized: capacity demand on
institutions and to offer public telecommunications the network for June 2018 had been projected to be
services to more than 500,000 citizens. The auction is around 137Gbps, but actual usage was just 21Gbps
being managed by the Private Investment Promotion at that date. The regulator was unable to address the
Agency (Agencia de Promocion de la Inversion Privada, matter directly, however, as the rules for the RDNFO
ProInversion), which will maintain the MTC’s priorities were enshrined within the 2012 legislation (Law 29904,
for the narrowing of the digital divide and the provision Law for the Promotion of Broadband and Construction
of telecommunications services to departments in the of the RDNFO) and would require a longer amendment
Amazon rainforest. (February 12, 2020) commsupdate.com process. The MTC announced a full review of the
program in October 2018 and published proposals in
The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) July the following year. Supreme Decree 002-2020-
has implemented an amendment to the 2012 law on the MTC was passed on 24 January 2020 and amended
promotion of broadband services, which also set out four articles of Law 29904, lifting several restrictions
the guidelines for the construction and management on the RDNFO operator, providing it with greater
of the National Fabre Optic Backbone (Red Dorsal commercial flexibility with regards to the services it can
Nacional de Fibro Optica or RDNFO). The law intended provide and how it sets prices. At present, the RDNFO
to help close the digital divide with the deployment of a operator is Azteca Communications, but the company
fiber backbone network spanning more than 13,000km has submitted a proposal to the MTC to withdraw from
and connecting 22 regional capitals and 180 provincial the scheme. (January 31, 2020) commsupdate.com
capitals. The network was completed in 2016 but

154 FEBRUARY 2020