Page 156 - SAMENA Trends - February 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Russia’s proposed auction of 5G-suitable millimeter plans to allocate spectrum in the 24.65GHz-29.5GHz
wave (mmWave) spectrum in the 25.25GHz-27.5GHz band to New Digital Solutions (a joint venture between
band – which was earmarked to take place in Rostelecom and MegaFon) for 5G testing. This
1Q20 – is likely to be scrapped, RBC reports, citing spectrum will be made available for testing purposes
Russia documentation from the State Commission for Radio until March 2021. RBC claims that a final decision on
Frequencies (SCRF). As per the document, the mmWave
the mmWave spectrum will be made at the SCRF’s next
frequencies will now be assigned to interested parties meeting, which will take place on 10 March.
without a bidding process. In addition, the watchdog (February 21, 2020) RBC

The Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications 2500MHz-2570MHz/2620MHz-2690MHz range. In
and Postal Services (Regulatorna agencija za addition, the regulator is considering making a further
elektronske komunikacije i postanske usluge, RATEL) 50MHz of TDD available in the 2570MHz-2620MHz
has begun a public consultation on frequency allocation range, parceled into 1×5MHz blocks. Similarly, the
Serbia plans for spectrum in the 2500MHz-2690MHz and regulator is planning to allocate frequencies in the
3400MHz-3800MHz ranges. For the 2600MHz band, 3.5GHz range as 1×5MHz blocks. RATEL is inviting
RATEL is planning to auction 2×70MHz as FDD comments on the initial proposals by 10 March 2020.
spectrum – split into 2×5MHz blocks – covering the (February 24, 2020) commsupdate.com

Telecoms regulator the Info-communications Media currently evaluating the submissions, and we expect to
Development Authority (IMDA) has confirmed that award the spectrum by mid-2020,’ the regulator said
at the closing of its ‘5G Call for Proposal’ deadline in a statement. The regulator will assess, among other
yesterday (17 February), it had received three bids from things, telcos’ network security design and ability to
Singapore the city-state’s mobile network operators (MNOs), with achieve 50% islandwide coverage by end-2022. In a
related development, TPG (Singapore) said that as part
Singtel and TPG (Singapore) each submitting separate
bids, and the second and third largest cellcos – StarHub of its planned network deployment, it has contracted
and M1 – handing over a joint bid for a concession. ST Engineering and SPTel, the engineering firm’s joint
TeleGeography notes that in a press release dated 23 venture with SP Group, to develop 5G use cases for
January, StarHub and M1 confirmed the signing of an several key verticals, namely, airports, maritime, smart
exclusive agreement to cooperate and submit a joint bid estates, and the public sector. It is understood the tie-
for one of the four 5G licenses due to be allocated by the up will see ST Engineering’s electronics unit providing
IMDA. While the communique did not provide specific the ‘underlining platform as well as applications to
details on what type of license they intend to go for – facilitate these use cases, while SPTel will tap its
national or regional/local – it did confirm that they were software-defined network capabilities, including the
working towards the 17 February 2020 closing date for provision of Multi-Access Edge Computing nodes, to
5G proposals. The successful bidders are expected support the delivery of such 5G applications.’
to be awarded the spectrum by mid-2020. ‘IMDA is (February 18, 2020) commsupdate.com

The telecoms regulator, the National Communications operation and provision of network infrastructure;
Authority (NCA), has introduced its new Unified Application and Services Provider (ASP) License, issued
Licensing Framework (ULF) following a consultation to service providers which utilize the infrastructure of a
with industry stakeholders launched in October last CIP; and Communications Infrastructure and Services
Somalia year. The new framework allows for the provision of Provider (CISP) License, a combined permit which
multiple services through the introduction of service allows holders to operate and provide infrastructure,
and technology-neutral licenses to promote innovation services and applications. Current service providers
and competition. Three types of permits exist under have until 1 April 2020 to apply for the relevant licenses,
the new ULF, namely: Communications Infrastructure otherwise they will be treated as new entrants.
Provider (CIP) License, which is required for the (February 19, 2020) commsupdate.com

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