Page 130 - SAMENA Trends - Jan-Mar 2024

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Poland’s regulator the Office of Electronic ones that do not always have adequate human resources
Communications (UKE) has signed an agreement and substantive knowledge. Telko.in reported that UKE
with the cities of Rzeszów and Wrocław as well as President Jacek Oko wants to put the dedicated local
the Union of Polish Metropolises (Unia Metropolii government private 5G network band to work so will
Poland Polskich) to educate local governments in the use of now share practical 5G knowledge in the field. Before
5G to build private networks. From a wider perspective
UKE decided to allocate the 3800-4200MHz band for
the initiative is intended to help the municipalities to private 5G networks (of which the first 100MHz for
effectively manage spectrum, while also convincing exclusive use by local government units for their own
potential investors and local communities about the needs), Oko said UKE representatives held many talks
benefits of Smart City applications. The Union of Polish with local government officials and organizations
Metropolises represents the 12 largest cities in the associating local government units.
country. The regulator emphasized that the agreement (January 17, 2024) www.mobileeurope.co.uk
is open to all local government units, including smaller

Romanian regulator, the National Authority for Manage- It also includes caching services like CDNs, reverse
ment and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM) has proxies or content adaptation proxies and hosting
gazetted a new national digital services law – which services such as cloud services or web hosting, plus
applies EU regulations on digital services – that will paid referral services or services that allow the sharing
Romaina come into force three days after publication. The new of information and content online, including file storage
and sharing. According to the law, intermediate service
law establishes the national measures necessary
for the application of the digital; services regulation, providers who have their main place of establishment
designates the coordinator of digital services (ANCOM) or residence in Romania or their legal representa-
and adopts the sanctioning regime applicable in case tive is established in Romania have the obligation to
of non-compliance with the obligations established by send ANCOM, within no more than 45 days from the
the regulation on digital services or by law. At the same date of starting to offer services, information which
time, the law also creates a mechanism through which will include the identification data of the supplier and
public authorities or institutions that have “competenc- its contact data in order to communicate effective-
es in certain sectors or fields of activity” can issue ly with public authorities, announcing any changes
orders for the removal of certain content consid- as well. ANCOM’s obligation to inform also applies to
ered illegal under national rules. The first part of the suppliers who offer intermediate services on the date
law covers off “intermediary service providers.” This of entry into force of the law, the 45-day term being
basically includes transmission services like internet calculated from this moment. The form, content and
exchange points, wireless access points, virtual private conditions under which the information will be provid-
networks, DNS services, first-level domain name ed are included in the draft decision on the information
registries, registrars for domains, the certification procedure for intermediate service providers, which are
authorities that issue digital certificates, VoIP telepho- currently under public consultation.
ny and other interpersonal communication services. (March 21, 2024) www.mobileeurope.co.uk

The Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, renewed. In Zurich – Northeastern Switzerland, TeleZüri
Energy and Communications (DETEC) has issued 38 was assessed to have presented the best application.
licenses to local radio and regional television stations However, under the 2+2 rule, where one company cannot
for the period 2025 to 2034. The majority of the licenses be granted a license for more than two TV or radio
Switzerland are going to the incumbent. Most of the existing license stations, Tele Züri cannot be granted the concession. Of
the remaining three applications, existing licensee Tele
holders will also be awarded the contract for the new
period. In one TV and two radio coverage areas, the Top was deemed to have the best proposal. In the Biel/
license is being awarded to a new applicant. In the Bienne coverage area, the recently established Canal B,
coverage areas, Geneva (Léman bleu), Vaud – Freiburg sister channel to Canal Alpha, today’s concessionaire
(la télé), Bern (TeleBärn) and Eastern Switzerland in the Arc Jurassien coverage area, won out against
(TVO), the existing broadcasters will have their licenses TeleBielingue. (January 12, 2024) www.broadbandtvnews.com

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