Page 132 - SAMENA Trends - January-February 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, Fran- calls on the CRTC to continue to implement and adjust
cois-Philippe Champagne, has finalized a policy direc- its Broadband Fund to meet connectivity needs across
tion to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecom- the country in coordination with other programmes
Canada munications Commission (CRTC), aimed at ‘placing … Additionally, it directs the CRTC to increase the
affordability and consumer rights at the forefront of the
transparency and clarity of service plan pricing, making
regulator’s future decisions’. Having proposed the new it easier and affordable for Canadians to change or
federal policy in May 2022, the final directives published cancel services.’ (February 14, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
yesterday by the telecoms Ministry, Innovation, Science
and Economic Development Canada, put the following The federal government’s decision on whether to
objectives at the top of the CRTC’s decision process: approve the Rogers-Shaw merger will be made ‘in due
• enhance wholesale internet access and competition course’, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and
• increase mobile competition Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne told reporters
• improve the reliability and resilience of services as the House of Commons Standing Committee on
• improve consumer rights Industry and Technology examined the proposed deal,
• speed up new infrastructure for universal access GlobalNews.ca reported. Speaking at a Liberal cabinet
• proactively improve the accessibility of telecom three-day retreat in Hamilton, Ontario, Champagne said
services for Canadians with disabilities he seeks to understand why the Federal Court of Appeal
• build better regulations to better support consumers. dismissed the Competition Bureau’s appeal against
Mr. Champagne declared: ‘Canadians still pay too much the CAD26 billion (USD19.4 billion) Rogers-Shaw deal
and see too little competition … These objectives will and the associated CAD2.85 billion sale of Shaw’s
ensure that affordable access to high-quality, reliable subsidiary Freedom Mobile to Videotron, while his
and resilient telecommunications services is available decision will focus on ‘making sure the deal will provide
in all regions of Canada, including rural and remote more competition and affordability for Canadians.’
areas and Indigenous communities. The direction also (January 26, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

The Antitrust Tribunal (Tribunal de Defensa de la Libre tender. The matter primarily concerns Claro Chile which
Competencia, TDLC) has reversed its position on hold rights to spectrum in the 3.5GHz band but is not
the use of existing fixed wireless 3.5GHz spectrum permitted to use the airwaves for 5G services. Subtel
Chile allocations for mobile services, TeleSemana reports. argued that as the concession is valid until 2032 the
resource is being underutilized, to the detriment of
Previous requests from sector watchdog the
Department of Telecommunications (Subsecretaria de customers and the market. TDLC’s revised decision now
Telecomunicaciones, Subtel) to alter the assignment clears the way for Subtel to alter Claro’s authorization so
were rejected by the TDLC on the basis that such that the spectrum can be used for 5G mobile services.
changes could only be implemented through a public (January 10, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

The Ministry of Information Technologies and Commu- presa De Telecomuncaciones De Bogota (ETB), Part-
nications (Ministerio de Tecnologias de la Informacion ners Telecom Colombia (WOM), alongside unknown
y las Comunicaciones, MinTIC) has revealed that a total quantities such as Colombia WB Hots, Global Play, EGC
Colombia of nine companies expressed an interest in securing Colombia and OSC Top Solutions Group. The govern-
ment is poised to distribute spectrum in the 700MHz,
5G spectrum licenses ahead of its 29 December 2022
deadline. The list includes established mobile players 1900MHz, 2.5GHz, 3.5GHz and 26GHz bands, although
such as Comunicacion Celular (Claro), Colombia Movil not all of the would-be applicants are interested in bid-
(Tigo), Colombia Telecomunicaciones (Movistar), Em- ding on all bands. (January 4, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

The Superintendency of Telecommunications 3300MHz-3400MHz and 3400MHz-3500MHz. A block
(Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones, Sutel) has of 3600MHz-3625MHz spectrum and millimeter wave
launched a 5G consultation as it seeks to establish (mmWave) frequencies in the 26GHz and 28GHz bands
which spectrum bands to include in its planned 5G could also come into play. Sutel notes that state-backed
Costa Rica spectrum auction. As per the document, the watchdog telco/utility firm Grupo ICE, which operates via the Kolbi
is considering distributing 90MHz of 700MHz spectrum, brand, currently holds the largest spectrum allowance in
100MHz in the 2300MHz band and 100MHz blocks at Costa Rica, with 309.4MHz across multiple bands, while

132 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2023