Page 107 - SAMENA Trends - January 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Citizen. The original deadline for mobile phone meet quality of service (QoS) standards in Q3 2019. The
customers to register their details was 31 December penalties have been issued to Airtel Tanzania (TZS1.6
2019 but has been pushed back to enable the remaining billion), Tanzania Telecommunication Corporation
subscribers to conclude the process, following which (TZS1.6 billion), Viettel Tanzania (operating as Halotel,
any unregistered SIM cards will be disconnected. In a TZS900 million), Zanzibar Telecommunication (TZS850
separate development, the Tanzania Communications million), Millicom Tanzania (Tigo, TZS500 million) and
Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has fined six operators Vodacom (TZS450 million).
a total of TZS5.9 billion (USD2.6 million) for failing to (January 2, 2020) commsupdate.com

The telecom regulator has set up a working panel wait and take part, rather than joining the first batch’s
responsible for preparing the auction process of the bid on Feb 16. In a related development, Advanced
3400-3700-megahertz range, believed to be the most Info Service yesterday picked up bid documents for
coveted spectrum for 5G adoption among mobile the multi-band license auction at the NBTC office.
operators. A source at the National Broadcasting It was the fifth operator to pick them, following True
Thailand and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) who Move H Universal Communication, Total Access
requested anonymity said the panel is led by Korkij Communication, TOT and CAT Telecom. Interested
Danchaivichit, deputy secretary-general of the NBTC bidders are allowed to pick the bid documents until Feb
in charge of the telecom sector. The panelists were 3, a day before the deadline to submit bid documents.
reported to have held the first meeting last week to (January 15, 2020) bangkokpost.com
discuss the framework of the spectrum recall. The
range is being used by SET-listed satellite service Thailand has approved the merger of two state-run
provider Thaicom for its Thaicom 5 C-band satellite. telecommunication companies, CAT Telecom and
The source said the NBTC plans to auction off the TOT, into the National Telecom company (NT), which
range as the second batch of 5G spectrum licences, will compete with private operators in the upcoming
following the first batch put up for auction on Feb 16. spectrum auctions, a senior government official said.
A total of 300MHz of bandwidth on the 3400-3700MHz The National Telecom company will help promote the
range could be put up for auction. The NBTC will government’s policy in digital infrastructure and provide
have to choose three academics to sit on its advisory services to the public, government spokeswoman,
team studying terms of the spectrum recall, including Narumon Pinyosinwat told reporters, adding that the
compensation figures, timeline of the recall process merger should be completed in six months. The Digital
as well as the impact on Thaicom’s corporate clients Economy and Society Ministry will oversee the newly
and satellite TV viewers, the source said. The range is formed company, she added. The merged entity will
the most coveted for 5G adoption by mobile operators, participate in the upcoming 5G spectrum auctions on
the source said. A total of 11 countries in Europe have the 700 megahertz (MHz), 800 Mhz, 2600 Mhz and
launched 5G commercial services on the 3500MHz the 26 gigahertz frequency bands on Feb. 16, held
range through a variety of networks and devices by the National Broadcasting Telecommunication
provided by vendors. An executive at a major mobile Commission (NBTC), she said. The high-band
operator who requested anonymity said the 3500MHz spectrums allow high data speeds that support
range is the key band for the global 5G development applications such as virtual and augmented reality,
ecosystem. “It is unavoidable for operators to examine self-driving cars, the remote control of industrial robots,
all the 5G adoption opportunities for all the ranges, and super-fast downloads of movies in high definition.
particularly the 3400-3700MHz,” the source said. Thailand’s top three mobile operators, Advanced Info
According to the source, 300MHz of bandwidth on the Service Pcl (ADVANC.BK), True Corporation Pcl (TRUE.
range is a suitable amount, compared with only 190MHz BK) and Total Access Communication Pcl (DTAC.BK)
of bandwidth on the 2600MHz range, put up for the Feb have picked up bidding documents from the NBTC.
16 auction. Of the four spectra put up for the Feb 16 CAT Telecom and TOT have also picked up the bid
auction, the 2600MHz is reported to be the most desired documents. The spectrum licenses all together worth
among operators. Several executives at the three major at least 160 billion baht ($5.28 billion) based on their
operators agreed if the NBTC sets a clear timeline for reserve price.
the 3400-3700MHz license auction, they are likely to (January 14, 2020) uk.reuters.com

107 JANUARY 2020