Page 102 - SAMENA Trends - January 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Regulatory Authority (Autorite de Regulation, ARE) fine of MRU86.35 million (USD2.26 million). Meanwhile,
has handed out fines to the country’s three cellular Mattel has been fined MRU23.92 million and Chinguitel
operators for failure to maintain adequate quality of must pay MRU33.45 million. The penalties relate to
service (QoS) on their respective networks. Mauritel, a QoS tests that were carried out between 16 November
Mauritania subsidiary of Maroc Telecom, was hardest hit, with a and 12 December 2019. (January 3, 2020) commsupdate.com

Over a decade after its previous – subsequently Recent press reports suggesting Telefonica is poised
abandoned – attempt to register pre-paid SIM cards to return its Mexican cellular frequencies have been
in Mexico, the government is said to be considering confirmed by Alejandro Navarrete, Head of the Radio
a fresh registration initiative. As per local press Spectrum Unit at the Federal Telecommunications
Mexico reports, the new attempt is being spearheaded by the Institute (Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones,
Secretariat of Public Safety and Protection (Secretaria
IFT). In an interview with Aristegui Noticias, Mr.
de Seguridad y Proteccion Ciudadana, SSPC), which Navarrete explained that – as part of the Spanish
cites the growing threat of extortion as a pressing group’s operational overhaul of its Hispanoamerica
concern. A requirement for Mexican pre-paid mobile businesses – Telefonica Moviles Mexico (Movistar)
phone users to register their details with network has opted to return its spectrum in the 800MHz and
operators became law in February 2009, coming into 1900MHz bands. This process commenced on 31
effect from April that year, giving service providers one December 2019 and will conclude on 30 June 2022.
year (until April 2010) to register their existing customer TeleGeography notes that in November 2019 Movistar
base and collect proof of identity for all new sales. SIM signed a ‘last mile wireless capacity access agreement’
card registration was repealed in 2012, however, after with AT&T Mexico, securing access to its 3G and 4G
a policy assessment found that it had not helped the networks. The migration of Movistar’s traffic to the
prevention, investigation and prosecution of associated AT&T network commenced immediately and is being
crimes. (January 16, 2020) commsupdate.com implemented gradually. (January 10, 2020) commsupdate.com

New Zealand announced the reserve price for a 5G Spectrum rights of 3.5GHz airwaves will be allocated
spectrum auction, as it prepares to release the short- for a term beginning in mid-2020 until 31 October
term management rights of airwaves in the 3.5GHz 2022. The long-term rights will start in November 2022
band. In a statement, Radio Spectrum Management following another auction. A simplified combinatorial
New Zealand (RSM), a business unit of the Ministry of Business, clock auction process will be used comprising up to
Innovation and Employment responsible for allocating three phases: clock; supplementary; and placement.
and licensing spectrum, said the reserve price will be RSM set an initial acquisition limit at four lots (40MHz)
set at NZD250,000 ($166,147) per 10MHz lot, with a per registered bidder, but noted this may be raised in
total of 16 lots available. There is a minimum bid of two the supplementary phase if lots go unsold in the clock
lots per registered bidder, and interested parties are phase. Successful bidders will be required to return
required to register and pay a deposit of NZD500,000. existing management rights they hold elsewhere in the
In December 2019, New Zealand’s government agreed 3.5GHz band. A discount from the purchase price will
to free up additional 5G spectrum, heeding operators’ be applied if spectrum is returned, based on the price
calls for the early release of 160MHz in the 3.5GHz band. per MHz of the winning bid. (January 13, 2020) mobileworldlive.com

The Regulatory Authority for Electronic of its annual turnover for 2018) and Niger Telecoms
Communications and Post (Autorite de Regulation des must pay XOF606.2 million (1.5% of its 2018 revenue).
Communications Electroniques et de la Poste, ARCEP) Orange and Moov Niger were each handed a penalty of
has fined four mobile operators a combined XOF2.57 1% of their 2018 annual turnover, equating to XOF524.3
Niger billion (USD4.4 million) for failing to meet quality of million and XOF391.9 million, respectively.
service (QoS) standards. Niger Inter reports that Airtel (January 2, 2020) commsupdate.com
Niger has been fined XOF1.05 billion (equating to 1.25%

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