Page 142 - SAMENA Trends - January-February 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The National Communications Authority (NCA) mobile termination rates (MTRs). The interconnection
has announced that Somali mobile operators have agreement came into force on 10 January 2023, and the
implemented an interconnection agreement to allow interconnection process was expected to be completed
end users to call each other seamlessly across by February 2023. According to the NCA, ‘the agreement
Somalia different telecoms networks. The agreement, which has been implemented in part by Hormuud Telecom,
was signed in December last year, was a result of a
Somtel, Amtel, SomLink, Golis Telecommunications
series of discussions and consultations between the and Telesom’.
relevant parties that worked out all the fundamental (February 14, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
issues necessary for the signing of the deal, including

The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) is planning to and fresh loans, will also be provided to the company
offer spectrum in the 28GHz band to a new operator, that secures the first of these new 28GHz licenses.
with a view to promoting competition in the sector and Speaking on its decision to have a three-year period
enabling the introduction of differentiated 5G services. before offering the second 28GHz concession, the
South Korea The MSIT announced its plans for the frequencies after MSIT was cited as saying: ‘The government is giving
last year confirming it had cancelled the 28GHz licenses
businesses an opportunity to enter the market, one in
previously issued to KT Corp and LG Uplus. As per the which they can take their time, considering that it might
Ministry’s plans, initially only one new 28GHz spectrum be hard for them to make new investments in the 28GHz
award will be made, while the other block of reclaimed band due to rising economic uncertainties at home and
spectrum will be allocated three years after the award of abroad.’ In terms of timings for the allocation of the new
the first new concession, so as to give the new entrant concession, the MSIT has said it will get the process
time to secure its position in the market. Meanwhile, the underway in Q2 2023.
report notes that financial benefits, including tax cuts (February 1, 2023) The Yonhap News Agency

Spain’s auction of 5G-suitable spectrum in the 26GHz acquired a 200MHz regional concession covering
band concluded on 21 December, generating a total Castilla and Leon. Movistar was the leading bidder,
of EUR36.2 million (USD38.7 million) for government securing five 1×200MHz blocks of 26GHz spectrum for a
coffers. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital total outlay of EUR20 million. By contrast, Vodafone and
Spain Transformation (Ministerio de Asuntos Economicos Orange each paid EUR8 million for a pair of 1×200MHz
concessions. All licenses have a duration of 20 years,
y Transformacion Digital) announced that Movistar,
Vodafone and Orange collectively bid for 1,800MHz of extendable for an additional 20-year period.
the available 2,400MHz spectrum that was tendered at (January 3, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
a nationwide level, while regional player Globe Operator

Sweden’s Post and Telecom Agency (Post & The Post and Telecom Agency (Post & Telestyrelsen,
Telestyrelsen, PTS) has opened a consultation into its PTS) has opened a consultation on proposals to
planned spectrum auction which is due to be held in remove Telia’s obligations on the provision of access to
September this year. The sale will offer licenses in the its copper networks. The regulator has issued its draft
Sweden 900MHz, 2100MHz and 2600MHz bands, with existing decision as the operator continues to decommission
concessions in these bands due to expire at end-2025. its legacy copper-based local access infrastructure
The 900MHz concessions will run for 23 years, while and customers migrate to faster technologies. Telia’s
licenses in the other two bands will be valid for 25 obligations to provide access to its fiber networks
years. 2×10MHz will be allocated in the 900MHz band, will remain unchanged. According to the latest PTS
primarily to improve mobile signals alongside main figures, as of October 2021 96% of Swedish households
road and rail routes, while new coverage obligations will had direct access to, or were in the vicinity of, a fiber
accompany 2100MHz and 2.6GHz frequencies. connection. Telia aims to switch off its copper networks
(February 1, 2023) www.commsupdate.com by end-2026.
(January 10, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

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