Page 141 - SAMENA Trends - January-February 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

has completed 8,037,862 registrations (11.82% of its Anna Mae Lamentillo, blamed the low level of take-up
total base), followed by Globe Telecom with 7,556,037 on problems that occurred during the first few days of
(8.60%) and DITO Telecommunity with 1,522,011 the implementation.
(11.61%). A spokesperson for the Department of (January 12, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
Information and Communications Technology (DICT),

The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection essential terms of an ongoing contract concluded for
(Urzad Ochrony Konkurencji i Konsumentow, UOKiK) has an indefinite period may only take place if the contract
fined cableco Vectra more than PLN22 million (USD5.1 expressly provides for it.’ It added: ‘Contracts with
million) for illegal price hikes. Following unlawful Vectra for an indefinite period did not contain a clause
Poland modifications to customer contracts in 2019 and 2020, specifying the criteria and scope of possible changes.
Vectra went on to implement PLN5 increases in monthly
This is essential for consumers to anticipate situations
fixed broadband and pay-TV tariffs, adding PLN120 in which unilateral changes may be made, for example
a year to a customer’s bill if they took both services. when they may increase service prices.’
In a statement, the regulator said: ‘The President of (January 25, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
UOKiK has repeatedly indicated that a change in the

The National Communications Authority (Autoridade in the sub-bands that remain available: 733MHz-
Nacional de Comunicacoes, ANACOM) has approved 758MHz designated as duplex gap, and 694MHz-
the launch of a public consultation on the availability 703MHz and 788MHz-791MHz designated as guard
of spectrum in the 700MHz frequency band. This bands, respective conditions of access and use, as well
Portugal consultation intends to gather the position of the as the applicable timetable for its distribution.
various players in the market regarding current interest (January 4, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

The National Authority for Management and Regulation (149,361), Telekom Romania Mobile Communications
in Communications (ANCOM) has revealed that (129,732) and Orange Romania Communications
almost 1.337 million telephone numbers were ported (30,190). Post-paid subscriptions accounted for 56%
in 2021 – the highest annual figure since the service’s of mobile numbers ported. Fixed voice numbers
Romania introduction in 2008. Records were also set in terms of were ported between the main providers as follows:
RCS&RDS 26,259, GTS Telecom 15,345, Vodafone
the average monthly volume of ported numbers, which
rose to 111,415, with the highest figures of more than 12,516, Orange 10,744, BT Global Europe 4,542 and
140,000 recorded in November and December. Mobile others 11,614. More than 9.7 million numbers have now
number porting rose around 20% year-on-year to 1.256 been transferred between networks since the portability
million, while fixed voice number transfers increased by service was introduced in October 2008, comprising
over 30% to 81,020. RCS&RDS (DIGI) accepted the most 8.7 million mobile numbers (89%) and one million fixed
mobile porting requests in 2022 (754,833), followed voice numbers.
by Vodafone Romania (191,822), Orange Romania (January 18, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

The Serbian government has adopted a new Bill Amongst the new elements introduced by the updated
on Electronic Communications, which it says is law are measures to allow operators to more easily
harmonized with the EU’s Electronic Communications and more fairly share existing infrastructure, and
Code and will establish a modern business environment requirements for providers to issue bills to customers in
Serbia in line with European standards. The new law aims to an electronic form. The bill also includes an obligation
provide conditions for the development of electronic
to register prepaid mobile users.
communications networks throughout the territory of (February 14, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
Serbia and to encourage the use of new technologies.

141 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2023