Page 104 - SAMENA Trends - January 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

biannually (in March and September), with the first due it aims to determine whether this is the case ‘in the
to be submitted on 1 March 2020. According to the near future’. Comments on the initial changes to the
Nkom, it is still considering whether further changes to obligations are, meanwhile, being accepted until a 27
Telenor’s SMP obligations are needed, and it has said January deadline. (January 8, 2020) commsupdate.com

The Philippines’ mobile operators Globe Telecom, 2021. With the operators arguing that the integration,
PLDT’s Smart Communications and New Major interoperability and other technical issues might delay
Player (NMP) DITO Telecommunity have pledged the process until 2H21, Gatchalian has said that any
to support the rollout of mobile number portability further stalling in putting MNP in place is a ‘disservice
Philippines (MNP) this year, albeit grudgingly. The Manila Times to Filipino consumers who are fed up with the telcos’
cites Senator Sherwin Gatchalian – the lead author
poor and expensive services’. Gatchalian reaffirmed
of the Mobile Number Portability Act (MNPA, a.k.a. that, as per the provisions of the Lifetime Cellphone
the Lifetime Cellphone Number Act) – as saying Number Act, MNP should be available within six months
that he has held discussions with the operators from the promulgation of the implementing rules
and technology service provider Syniverse on how and regulations (IRR). The law – which also removes
to expedite the implementation of MNP services in interconnection fees charged to subscribers for calling
the Philippines, allowing users to switch networks or texting across different networks – was signed in
or change subscriptions without losing their current February 2019, while the IRR was issued on 11 June
mobile number. ‘They should implement the Mobile 2019 and took effect on 2 July 2019. ‘We will closely
Number Portability Act, even by phases as long as it monitor and ensure that the MNPA will be implemented
will be done within the first six months this year,’ he immediately. Within the year, that is their commitment
said, suggesting that the cellcos phase in MNP by and that is what we will focus on,’ Gatchalian added.
first offering it to post-paid users and then pre-paid in (January 21, 2020) commsupdate.com

The proposed takeover of Polish cable operator of changing provider without costs. The takeover deal,
Multimedia Polska by larger rival Vectra has been which involves Poland’s second and third largest
cleared by the country’s Office of Competition and cablecos, was first announced in August 2018.
Consumer Protection (Urzad Ochrony Konkurencji i Multimedia had previously been a takeover target of
Poland Konsumentow, UOKiK). Under conditions imposed on cable market leader UPC, but that deal collapsed due
to competition concerns.
the deal, Vectra will have to sell networks in eight cities
and offer customers in a further 13 markets the option (January 20, 2020) commsupdate.com

The National Communications Authority (Autoridade take place before June 2020. In a related development,
Nacional de Comunicacoes, ANACOM) issued its ANACOM has finalized the ‘reconfiguration and
final approval regarding the frequencies it intends relocation’ of the 3.4GHz-3.8GHz spectrum currently
to distribute for 5G use. As a result, the regulator will held by small cell wholesale provider Dense Air
Portugal auction spectrum in the following bands: 700MHz, Portugal. The spectrum that the UK-owned company
holds in Lisbon will be reduced from 168MHz to
900MHz, 1800MHz, 2100MHz, 2600MHz and 3.6GHz.
ANACOM notes that pre-existing regional stipulations 100MHz and Dense Air will be relocated to the lower
have been removed from the 3.6GHz band, and a total end of the band to allow for increased access for other
of 400MHz in that range will be divided into 10MHz companies. Dense Air’s spectrum will expire on 5
nationwide blocks. The spectrum sale is expected to August 2025. (January 2, 2020) commsupdate.com

The President Klaus Iohannis has backed the present time, as China’s Huawei is the only equipment
government’s decision to postpone a 5G spectrum supplier capable of implementing the network at
auction originally planned for late 2019. Local news present. ‘What tender for 5G? Huawei or Huawei?’ noted
agency Agerpres reports that President Iohannis said President Iohannis, adding: ‘I am not willing to make

Romania during an informal press briefing on 20 December the wrong decision for the whole society.’ Romania’s
National Authority for Management and Regulation in
that it was not appropriate to stage an auction at the

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