Page 118 - SAMENA Trends - January-February 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Oi signed an exclusivity agreement relating Participacoes Multiestrategia and other news, Oi has confirmed that its FTTH
to the sale of its fibre-optic InfraCo unit in investment funds managed or controlled network is now available in a total of 277
January 2021. The contract was signed with by the BTG Group. InfraCo was renamed towns and cities, and passes a total of 19
Globenet Cabos Submarinos, BTG Pactual V.tal in November 2021 and the transaction million homes.
Economia Real Fundo de Investimento em belatedly closed in June 2022. In other

EC Outlines Digital Targets

The European Commission (EC) detailed infrastructure across Europe. In a statement, and access to technology as fundamental
plans and objectives to bolster its digital the EC explained the digital decade policy to the continent’s ambitions. To make this
goals, stating its next steps will shine a program will guide the European (EU) possible, the EC will develop KPIs to monitor
spotlight on the related economy and public member states to achieve their ambitions progress in the coming months. It stated
services, technological skills and network by 2030. The EC highlighted four key areas: EU member states are expected to hand
improving citizens’ digital skills; deploying in a “national strategic roadmap” detailing
emerging technologies including cloud and policies and actions to support the digital
AI for enterprise; advancing network and goals in October 2023. Additionally, the
data infrastructure; and digitizing public EC emphasized the importance of “multi-
services and administrative processes. country projects” to advance investments in
“These targets embody the policy digital infrastructure spanning technologies
program’s objectives”, the EC claimed, including 5G and quantum computing. The
citing a secure and competitive digital EC is scheduled to publish its first digital
environment, fair online business practices decade report in June.

FCC Passes Plan to Create Space Bureau

The US Federal Communications the FCC and help the agency navigate” for competition in delivering satellite
Commission (FCC) moved forward on a the latest “global communications policy”. broadband services and modernizing
plan to carve out a separate organization It will address non-government satellite spectrum policy. The FCC previously
to better support the growing satellite programs and improve coordination with also proposed new rules for de-orbiting
industry after unanimous approval by other agencies on issues related to space. satellites to tackle debris.
Commissioners. A proposal to establish the FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel noted the
Space Bureau and a standalone Office of regulatory frameworks for licensing the
International Affairs was made by the FCC satellite industry have not kept up with
late in 2022 by eliminating the regulator’s fast growth. The regulator added the next
International Bureau. In a statement issued step will be to seek government and other
on 9 January, the FCC explained the Office necessary approvals for the reorganization.
of International Affairs will focus on global It explained the move is the latest in a
communications regulation and licensing. space-based agenda which also involved
The Space Bureau “will better support the taking action to speed up regulatory
needs of the growing satellite industry, review processes, increase the size of its
promote long-term technical capacity at satellite division, foster new opportunities

Canada Megadeal Threatened Again as Regulator Digs-In

Canada’s Federal Court of Appeal granted attempt to block the deal, the Competition the operators have long-claimed would be
a temporary suspension of a tribunal’s Bureau Canada announced yesterday (2 beneficial to consumers and businesses
decision to clear the acquisition of January) it had secured an emergency in the country, a position strongly disputed
Shaw Communications by rival Rogers interim suspension of an order made by by the country’s competition regulator. In
Communications, giving time for the the Competition Tribunal until its “request an attempt to appease concerns Shaw’s
country’s competition authority to challenge for a stay and injunction can be heard”. Freedom Mobile is set to be sold to
the ruling. Having already failed in an The move is the latest threat to a tie-up Videotron on completion of the main deal.
118 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2023