Page 100 - SAMENA Trends - January 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Arcep’s specifications stipulate that each operator areas. By 2022, at least 75% of cell sites must be
must launch 5G services in at least two cities before capable of providing speeds of at least 240 Mbps
the end of 2020. Each carrier should deploy 3,000 at each site. Arcep’s conditions also stipulate the
sites by 2022, 8,000 sites in 2024 and 10,500 sites by obligation for carrier to deploy 5G to provide coverage
2025. Eventually, all of the cell sites must provide 5G in roadways across France. Arcep has also provided for
service using frequencies in the 3.4-3.8 GHz band or commitments that seek to improve indoor coverage for
other bands, according to the regulator. Arcep also business and commercial purposes, and to facilitate
highlighted that it is proposing that 25% of 3.4-3.8 GHz coverage by multiple operators. Commitments also
band sites in the last two stages must be located in concern the supply of dedicated fixed access products
sparsely populated areas, targeting economic activity, on mobile networks.
notably manufacturing, excluding major metropolitan (January 4, 2020) rcrwireless.com

Germany’s Federal Network Agency (FNA, known locally Telefonica Deutschland says it was unable to meet the
as the Bundesnetzagentur or BNetzA) is reviewing obligations but expects to achieve the required levels
reports submitted by mobile network operators to by the end of the year. None of the trio were able to fulfil
determine whether they met the coverage requirements the requirement to fully serve all major traffic routes,
Germany of the 2015 multi-band spectrum auction. These with the delays attributed partly to a lack of building
permits, monument and environmental protection, and
include an obligation to provide mobile data speeds
of at least 50Mbps to 98% of households nationwide nature conservation. The FNA is currently reviewing the
and 97% of households in each federal state from 1 information provided by the operators and will conduct
January 2020, as well as fully supplying the main traffic its own measurements in each federal state. The
routes. According to their own information, Telekom regulator will then decide on whether each company
Deutschland and Vodafone Germany claim they has fulfilled the coverage requirements of their mobile
fulfilled the household coverage requirements, while spectrum licenses. (January 14, 2020) commsupdate.com

India will no longer be behind the technology curve billion (USD14.4 million) to bankrupt cellco Reliance
following the timely launch of fifth-generation or 5G Communications (RCOM). The apex court rejected an
networks, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India appeal from the DoT, directing the ministry to repay
(TRAI) Chairman Ram Sewak Sharma said. “Now, we the amount to RCOM. The original ruling was issued
India have come to a stage where technology develops in after DoT encashed bank guarantees of INR9.08 billion
India first. With 5G, we will no longer remain behind
against spectrum dues of INR7.74 billion, with the
the technology curve,” Sharma said at the Telecom ministry opting to retain the excess for the cellco’s
Summit 2020 organized by the PHD Chamber of other liabilities. In its December 2018 decision, however,
Commerce & Industry and the Telecom Equipment the TDSAT ruled that difference could not be used for
Manufacturers Association (TEMA). But he pointed to other dues, noting that, although the DoT had adjusted
challenges like funds scarcity and low fiber backhaul INR303 million, ‘the remaining amount of INR1.04
for the deployment of the next gen technology in billion … should be returned to the petitioner without
India. “There are less than a third of mobile towers prejudice to rights of either party for any other charges
connected to fiber backhaul when compared to China which the petitioner may be found liable to pay.’ RCOM
that has more than 80% connected,” Sharma said. He is currently going through insolvency proceedings, with
added that the telecom sector should be treated as its creditors this week reportedly assessing bids for the
‘strategic’ to serve citizens and that issues such as operator’s various assets. (January 7, 2020) The Economic Times
the Right-of-Way (RoW) should be set right. “Telecom
sector should not be considered as a money-making The Indian government gave the green light for all
machine for local bodies,” Sharma said. He said some network equipment suppliers, including Huawei,
of the key features of next generation technology to participate in upcoming 5G trials, signaling the
include low-latency communications, huge throughput Chinese vendor could take part in deploying the next-
and massive machine-to-machine communication. generation technology in the country. The Telecoms
(January 22, 2020) economictimes.indiatimes.com Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said 5G trials will be
India’s Supreme Court has upheld a December 2018 done with all operators and all vendors are invited. In
ruling from the Telecom Disputes Settlement and a statement, Huawei acknowledged: “We thank the
Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) instructing the Department Indian government for its continued faith in Huawei.
of Telecommunications (DoT) to refund INR1.04 We firmly believe that only technology innovations and

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