Page 139 - SAMENA Trends - January-February 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The National Inspectorate for Digital Infrastructure 5G licensees were subject to geographical coverage
(Rijksinspectie Digitale Infrastructuur, RDI) – which requirements stipulating mobile coverage of ‘98% of the
was recently renamed from the Telecommunications surface area of every Dutch municipality’ with standards
Agency (Agentschap Telecom) – reported that network set for minimum data speed ‘on the outer edges of a
The operators KPN and VodafoneZiggo have received mobile network’: with effect from July 2022 minimum
temporary waivers of coverage obligations for cellular
requirements for these ‘worst points’ are 8Mbps, rising
Netherlands 700MHz band mobile services in a limited number to 10Mbps in 2026, and in August 2022 RDI began
of localities. KPN, VodafoneZiggo and T-Mobile checking network coverage and speeds.
Netherlands each won 2×10MHz spectrum licenses (January 5, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
in the 5G 700MHz band in July 2020. The national

Airtel Africa has announced that its Nigerian subsidiary the National Broadband Plan targets. The acquisition
has purchased 100MHz of spectrum in the 3.5GHz of 2600MHz spectrum will complement Airtel’s strong
band and 2×5MHz in the 2600MHz band from the spectrum position in the market to enhance network
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for a capacity and future-proof its growth opportunity.
Nigeria gross consideration of USD316.7 million, payable in ‘Nigeria is a market with enormous potential for
future growth in mobile services. Investment in new
local currency. The additional spectrum will support
Airtel Nigeria’s investments in network expansion for technologies and local infrastructure to enable this
both mobile data and fixed wireless home broadband growth is a strategic priority for the Group and will
capability, including 5G rollout, providing significant ensure we are able to provide reliable and affordable
capacity to accommodate its continued strong data services to local communities across the country,’
growth and enhancing customer experience. The stated Segun Ogunsanya, CEO of Airtel Africa, adding:
acquisition of 3.5GHz spectrum will enable Airtel ‘5G is critical to these ambitions, and we look forward
to launch 5G connectivity with higher speeds, lower to launching new services to drive further digitalization
latency, significant network capacity and an improved across the country, facilitate economic progress and
user experience. It will also accelerate the availability transform lives across Nigeria.’
and efficiency of fixed wireless access products, (January 9, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
contributing towards Airtel Nigeria’s progress in meeting

The Ministry of Local Government and District The National Communications Authority (Nasjonal
(Kommunal- og distriktsdepartement, KDD) and kommunikasjonsmyndighet, Nkom) has confirmed
the National Communications Authority (Nasjonal that the 3.8GHz-4.2GHz band has been made available
kommunikasjonsmyndighet, Nkom) have confirmed the for the deployment of local 5G networks. In a press
Norway allocation of subsidies designed to expand the reach release regarding the development the regulator noted
of faster fixed broadband speeds. A total of NOK362.7
that, having conducted pilots during 2022, companies
million (USD36.5 million) is being distributed for projects can now apply for licenses offering up to 80MHz in
in 2023, up NOK60 million on the sum handed out in the aforementioned band for the construction of non-
2022, with these funds being made available as part of public 5G infrastructure in a geographically limited area.
government efforts aimed at ensuring all Norwegians Concessions are valid for up to ten years, with annual fees
have access to downlink speeds of 100Mbps by the ranging from NOK200 (USD20.3) for a 20MHz block of
end of 2025. Of note, while state aid in previous years ‘low-power’ spectrum, rising to NOK3,800 for an 80MHz
had only been available to counties that lacked fixed ‘medium-power’ block. According to Nkom, the newly
broadband access at downlink speeds of 30Mbps, established regulation governing local 5G networks in
this year support is also being offered to areas that the 3.8GHz-4.2GHz bands ‘lowers the barriers to get the
have connectivity at speeds of between 30Mbps and Norwegian industry into exploring what 5G can offer in
100Mbps. In terms of the areas that will benefit from solving their wireless communication needs’.
funding in 2023, the counties of Viken and Innlandet (January 19, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
will be the biggest recipients, with grants of NOK69.9
million and NOK69.6 million, respectively.
(January 20, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

139 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2023