Page 98 - SAMENA Trends - February 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Telecom, Free Mobile, Orange and SFR), of which 9,718 Free acquired in a French spectrum auction in 2020.
are declared technically operational. Free Mobile had Bouygues Telecom initially launched 5G in 20 cities
the highest number of operational 5G sites as of the across France in December 2020. The French operator
end of January, with 14,019 followed by Bouygues said it expects to achieve nationwide coverage by the
Telecom (6,725), SFR (5,263) and Orange (3,264). Some end of 2021. The current roll-out phase will rely on the
of the authorized 5G sites are shared by the mobile 3.5 GHz and 2.1 GHz bands. French telco Orange has
operators, the agency said. In addition, 56,129 4G sites already activated 5G in over 160 cities across France,
were authorized in mainland France as of February 1, of the operator’s CEO Stéphane Richard previously said.
which 51,636 are in service. lliad subsidiary Free Mobile Some of the initial cities covered by Orange’s 5G
previously stated that its 5G footprint currently covers network include Marseille, Nice, Le Mans and Angers.
62% of the population, up from 52% in mid-May 2021 Orange initially launched commercial 5G services in
and nearly 40% at the end of 2020. Free Mobile said that 15 municipalities at the beginning of December 2020.
its 5G network currently reaches 9,100 municipalities Meanwhile, SFR initially launched its 5G commercial
across France. It also said the firm had already network in Nice in November 2020. According to recent
commissioned a total of 10,200 5G sites. For its 5G press reports, SFR currently provides 5G services in
network, Free Mobile uses frequencies in the 700 MHz 2,100 municipalities across France.
band as well as frequencies in the 3.5 GHz band which (February 7,2022) rcrwireless.com

Telekom Deutschland, the domestic fixed and mobile in over 180 cities and municipalities in the 3.7GHz
unit of Deutsche Telekom, added an additional 159 band. Telekom revealed that it plans to use its 700MHz
new 5G locations last month, bringing the 5G antenna spectrum for 5G Standalone (5G SA) this year.
total to more than 63,000 to provide coverage to 90% (February 16, 2022) commsupdate.com
Germany of the population. The total includes 4,000 antennas

The Competition and Regulatory Authority (GCRA) has specific changes that are being considered, these are:
launched a consultation regarding proposed changes a proposal to increase the minimum level of license fee
to the mechanism for setting license fees. According for all spectrum holders to GBP16,500 (USD22,337)
to the watchdog, following the reversion to separate per annum; and the possibility of invoicing licensees
Guernsey regulatory bodies for Guernsey and Jersey there is now for the cost of pursuing late payments at a daily rate
a need to upgrade the current ‘Information Note’ so it
of GBP450. Responses from interested parties to the
is Guernsey specific. Further, the GCRA said that there consultation have been requested by a deadline of 22
are aspects of the current licensing framework ‘where March 2022.
improvements seem appropriate’. In terms of two (February 16, 2022) commsupdate.com

MTN Guinea, the country’s second largest mobile February, although no further details regarding their
network operator (MNO) by subscriptions, has been duration or payment terms were disclosed. MTN is
awarded a 4G operating license by the Regulatory the country’s second MNO to be granted a 4G permit;
Authority for Post and Telecommunications (L’Autorite Orange paid USD90 million in March 2019 for a ten-
Guinea de Regulation des Postes et Telecommunications, year concession which also included extensions for its
existing 2G and 3G licenses.
ARPT). The regulator announced in a statement that
MTN’s 2G and 3G licenses were also renewed on 4 (February 7, 2022) commsupdate.com

The Guyanese government has issued an Individual process was incomplete but ongoing. The operator’s
License and Frequency Authorization to would-be new license was published in the Gazette on 9 February
mobile provider Green Gibraltar. The operator, which is but backdated to take effect from 1 January 2022. No
100% Guyanese owned and also uses the GG Cell name, further details were included in the publication, though
Guyana is planning to offer 5G services in seven of Guyana’s the operator had previously applied for permission
to utilize spectrum in the 3300MHz-3400MHz range
ten regions. The company prematurely announced in
November last year that it had been given permission in all but three regions. In a notice from the PMO,
to launch 5G services. The company retracted the claim Green Gibraltar’s directors noted that they would now
citing a ‘misunderstanding’, after a statement from the begin work on a rollout plan and would make a public
Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) clarified that the statement soon. (February 22, 2022) commsupdate.com
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