Page 157 - SAMENA Trends - February 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Swedish communications regulator PTS said that its year. Looking at open internet access, PTS said it has
2020 market regulation efforts will include receiving identified the need to increase scrutiny of compliance
information from credit institutions on their cash with rules. It will ensure there are few hurdles to
provision for the first time. Its other annual activities access and that operators do not apply arbitrary limits
Sweden will concentrate on open internet access, international or blocks. Therefore, PTS will study traffic direction
roaming and public operators’ compliance with the measures and limits on connecting servers. Turning
broadband expansion law. The watchdog said it will to international roaming, the regulator said it will
monitor compliance but also react to events. From ensure that operators follow EU pricing regulations.
January 1, 2021, credit institutions will have an PTS said it will also monitor operator’s compliance
obligation to provide cash services to a satisfactory with competition rules, such as pricing obligations for
extent nationwide. However, their information interconnection markets and broadcasting.
disclosure duty to PTS begins in 2020, and this will (February 25, 2020) telecompaper.co
be a priority for the communications regulator this

Airtel Tanzania, the country’s second largest mobile The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority
operator by subscribers, has been allocated an (TCRA) has already switched off around 3.7 million
additional 2×10MHz of spectrum in the 1800MHz band, SIM cards and plans to disconnect a further 15.3
at an annual cost of USD600,000. The latest award brings million, following the conclusion of its biometric SIM
Airtel’s total allocation to 2×22.5MHz in the 1800MHz registration program on 20 January. The scheme was
Tanzania band. In addition, Airtel Tanzania has been authorized launched on 1 May 2019 and was originally scheduled

by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority to be completed on 31 December, but the deadline was
(TCRA) to use 10MHz in the 700MHz band for eight extended by 20 days to give mobile phone users more
months. The license will be issued following a USD12 time to register their National Identification Numbers
million payment to the regulatory authorities in June with their service provider.
2020. (February 4, 2020) commsupdate.com (January 31, 2020) The EastAfrican

Thailand’s regulator approved all five operators and dtac acquired 10MHz of 900MHz spectrum in an
submitting applications for a spectrum sale, raising uncontested auction in October the same year. The
expectations the government could generate a country’s first 4G auction in November 2015 generated
huge windfall after three prior auctions attracted $2.25 billion for the government, with AIS and True
limited interest. The National Broadcasting and Move each paying more than $1 billion for 15MHz of
Thailand Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) announced 1800MHz spectrum. (February 13, 2020) mobileworldlive.com
AIS, True Move and state-owned CAT Telecom qualified
to bid for spectrum in the 700MHz, 2.6GHz and 26GHz The three major private mobile operators in Thailand
bands. Dtac and state-owned TOT were cleared for the along with state-owned TOT and CAT Telecom
26GHz band sale. The auction is scheduled to begin confirmed plans to participate in a spectrum auction
on 16 February. None of operators expressed interest scheduled to start on 16 February, ending uncertainty
in 1800MHz spectrum, which was left unsold in a long around the process. In separate stock market filings,
delayed 4G auction in August 2018, when only two of AIS, True Move and dtac said they submitted the
nine blocks of 10MHz available were sold. The major necessary documents to the National Broadcasting
deterrent was the reserve price per 10MHz slot was and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) by 4
set at THB12.48 billion ($400 million) the same level February deadline. CAT Telecom president Sanpachai
as the winning price during an 1800MHz auction in Huvanandana handed its application to NBTC officials.
late 2015. Last week the country’s three major private TOT announced it would apply by the deadline, but had
mobile operators along with state-owned TOT and CAT yet to issue a formal statement by the close of business
Telecom showed overwhelming support for the latest hours. The government recently approved participation
auction. In late January, NBTC raised its forecast for by the country’s two state-owned operators in the
proceeds from $1.8 billion to $2.1 billion, after the sale of spectrum in the 700MHz, 1800MHz, 2600MHz
government approved participation by the country’s and 26GHz bands, spurring the regulator to raise its
state-owned operators. The regulator previously forecast for the auction to THB64 billion ($2.1 billion).
expected the sale to raise about $1.8 billion. In An announcement on qualified bidders is due from the
addition to the tepid interest in the 1800MHz band, NBTC on 12 February. Network rollouts are expected to
the regulator cancelled a 900MHz sale in August 2018 begin in March. (February 4, 2020) mobileworldlive.com

157 FEBRUARY 2020