Page 57 - SAMENA Trends - Gitex Special 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

REGULATORY NEWS

CST Publishes Frequency Spectrum Regulations for Maritime Services

The Communications, Space and
Technology Commission (CST) of Saudi
Arabia has published the Frequency
Spectrum Regulations for Maritime
Services, which aims to regulate the use of
maritime radio services, raise the efficiency
of spectrum use by organizing the channels
for these services, and ensure international
harmonization to protect these services
from harmful interference. The document
highlights the main elements for regulating
maritime services, such as types of
licenses, management of numbering
resources, technical terms and conditions
for licensing, and frequency allocations for
maritime radio services. The maritime radio
services are of essential help to the maritime
sector, in communications, navigation,
distress and safety. According to CST, this
document plays a role in managing the
use of maritime radio services, raising the
efficiency spectrum use in the Kingdom,
according to best international practices,
and providing spectrum for all maritime
radio services in the Kingdom while
ensuring compliance with international
regulations and protection from wireless
interference. The document can be viewed
on CST website.

Industry Body Raises Concerns Over Terms of Argentina 5G Auction

Mobile industry association GSMA Latin spectrum for [state-owned telco] ARSAT 3600MHz frequency band. A 300MHz
America has raised concerns over the compromises the future availability of tranche of spectrum will be auctioned in
terms of Argentina’s planned 5G spectrum the resource. This adds to an existing three 100MHz TDD blocks, each with a
auction, observing that the proposed situation of artificial scarcity. Argentina base bidding price of USD350 million, under
tender ‘is contrary to best international has 210MHz of spectrum available to licenses permitting both mobile and fixed
practices in spectrum allocation and puts assign. Unused spectrum is a missed 5G network services. Qualifying applicants
the future of 5G in the country at risk’. opportunity to connect more users with must submit bids by 29 September 2023.
According to a report by BNamericas, the greater speeds.’ On 28 August the National Somewhat controversially, the government
GSMA stated: ‘The price set in Argentina Communications Agency (Ente Nacional de has reserved spectrum in the 3600MHz-
is very high in relation to the economic Comunicaciones, ENACOM) approved the 3700MHz band for ARSAT with a view to
situation of the country and the revenues conditions for a long-awaited 5G spectrum enabling 5G use in the public sector and
of the industry … The reservation of free auction encompassing the 3300MHz- via cooperatives and SMEs.

57 GITEX SPECIAL 2023