Page 100 - SAMENA Trends - February 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Ireland’s Department of the Environment, Climate and the introduction of a universal service obligation (USO)
Communications (DECC) has opened a consultation for broadband; and the ‘immediate’ deployment of
on its ‘Digital Connectivity Strategy’, which is a sub- high-speed connectivity towards key locations such
strategy of its recently-launched national digital as digital hubs, schools, Garda stations and other
Ireland strategy, ‘Harnessing Digital – The Digital Ireland government facilities across the country. As part of the
Framework’. According to the DECC, the Digital
consultation, the government has invited commercial
Connectivity Strategy is primarily focused on enabling operators to submit details of their existing or future
the physical telecommunication infrastructure and planned networks delivering broadband services to
services delivering digital connectivity. In terms of premises with at least 1Gbps download. According to
overall targets, the strategy envisages that: all Irish the DECC, details should include the list of premises
households and businesses will be covered by a gigabit- that are or will be covered and the expected date by
capable network no later than 2028; all populated which gigabit connectivity will be made available to
areas will be covered by 5G by no later than 2030; and each premises. Meanwhile, in terms of some of the
the delivery of digital connectivity to all ‘Connected specific questions asked by the consultation, these
Hubs’ and all schools will be achieved by 2023. In include: whether the ambition level set out in the
terms of actions the authorities are reportedly planning strategy is considered appropriate; and whether the
to implement to achieve its goals, these include: the strategic enablers the strategy sets out are appropriate,
deployment of gigabit connectivity in primarily rural or whether they need to be amended.
areas via the state-led National Broadband Plan (NBP); (February 24, 2022) commsupdate.com

The Communications Authority (CA) has revealed two years, bringing an end to a seven-year dispute.
plans to enable the rollout of pilot 5G networks The concession was originally held by Essar Telecom
this year. Matano Ndaro, the Director of Licensing, Kenya (yu), which was partly acquired by Airtel at
Compliance and Standards at the CA, told journalists the end of 2014. Airtel’s original 15-year operating
Kenya that the regulator has developed a roadmap that license expired on 27 January 2015, since when it has
outlines strategies to facilitate the deployment of been operating under the license of Essar which was
5G technology. Ndaro revealed that the country will issued on 1 July 2007 and will expire in January 2025.
begin to authorize the first 5G pilot projects this year, According to Airtel Kenya, at the time of acquiring
following which spectrum licenses will be allocated for Essar’s assets, the CA had agreed to merge the two
the operation of commercial networks. ‘We are now set cellcos’ operating licenses, but once the deal was
to hold a validation workshop in the next one month finalized the regulator insisted that Airtel pay KES2.15
to discuss the comments received. Once we adopt billion to renew its permit, arguing that Essar’s license
the input from the stakeholders, we shall establish was non-transferrable. The settlement will enable
a national 5G forum and allocate pilot frequencies,’ Airtel to seek an exemption from a rule that requires
Xinhuanet quoted Ndaro as saying at the launch of telecoms companies to sell at least a 30% stake to local
Chinese smartphone maker Vivo’s 5G enabled device shareholders by March 2024. ‘We have had this long-
in the Kenyan market this week. standing dispute with Airtel over the Essar transaction.
(February 25, 2022) commsupdate.com The dispute has been there for seven years. But I am
glad to report that we struck a deal and this is a major
Airtel Kenya, the local unit of Airtel Africa has achievement for us,’ stated CA director-general Ezra
reportedly reached an out of court settlement with Chiloba, adding: ‘Taxpayers are guaranteed of receiving
the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) related about KES2 billion in the next two years. Airtel came up
to a long-running dispute about its operating license. with a payment plan, which we agreed on. The idea was
Under the settlement pact terms, Airtel Kenya will to have this matter resolved so that they can also start
pay KES2 billion (USD17.5 million) to the telecoms focusing on investing properly in this particular space.’
regulator for the renewal of its license over the next (February 18, 2022) Business Daily

The Cabinet of Ministers has issued plans for the to 2026), with 5G projects set to be implemented within
introduction of 5G mobile network technology which the timeframe of Q1 2022 to Q4 2023. A first stage
could potentially see a commercial launch this year. involves 5G test launches in yet-to-be-determined pilot
The 5G plans – with responsibility assigned to the zones supported by frequency allocations to cellcos.
Kyrgyzstan Ministry of Digital Development – form part of the Previous government proposals for implementing 5G
rollouts by end-2021 were delayed.
approved strategy for implementing the National
Development Program of the Kyrgyz Republic (running (February 3, 2022) Sputnik.kg

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