Page 97 - SAMENA Trends - January 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

REGULATORY ACTIVITIES BEYOND

THE SAMENA REGION

Analysis by Australia’s competition watchdog found pointed to a reduction in the number of affordable
while mobile data allowances increased 65 per cent entry-level plans available on the market, which it said
in the year to end-June 2019, the average price for are being withdrawn in favor of higher-priced plans with
mobile services fell 6.6 per cent. The annual decrease more inclusions. ACCC chair Rod Sims, said: “While
Australia was slightly below the average 7.5 per cent reduction competition and investment are giving consumers
in prices over the past five years, the Australian better value in terms of higher quality services for
Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) revealed their money, consumers who do not want bells and
in a regular market report. Over the same period, fixed whistles are struggling to find cheap, entry-level, fixed
broadband prices fell 2.5 per cent each year. In the year broadband and voice products.” Strong demand for
to end-June 2019, prepaid mobile prices dropped 7.3 streaming services fuelled a 47 per cent jump in data
per cent year-on-year and post-paid by 6.5 per cent. downloads, with fixed broadband accounting for 88 per
The largest increases in data allowance were recorded cent of the total. The proportion of Australians relying
in tariffs in the AUD60 ($41.19) to AUD70 range. Within solely on mobile for broadband dropped from 23 per
this, average post-paid allocations increased from cent in 2014 to 16 per cent in 2019, ACCC noted, citing
23GB to 43GB, with prepaid nearly doubling from 29GB data from the Australian Communications and Media
to 57GB. While mobile prices continued to fall, the ACCC Authority. (January 21, 2020) mobileworldlive.com

The Competition College of the Belgian Competition agreement will have ‘positive effects for customers and
Authority (BCA) has suspended implementation of Belgian society as a whole’. (January 13, 2020) commsupdate.com
the planned mobile network sharing joint venture
between Proximus and Orange Belgium until 16 March Telecoms regulator the Belgian Institute for Postal
Belgium following a complaint from rival mobile network Services and Telecommunications (BIPT) has
operator (MNO) Telenet. In a press release issued, the announced a public consultation on a range of issues
competition authority announced it was imposing an regarding mobile spectrum. Stakeholders are invited to
interim injunction on the transfer of staff to the new comment on the legislative proposals for reorganizing
joint venture, although the two companies are free to spectrum in the 3.4GHz-3.6GHz frequency band to
proceed with preparations for the alliance, including enable its use for 5G, the potential use of the 3.8GHz-
the purchase of network equipment. The BCA noted the 4.2GHz frequency band by private 4G and 5G networks,
delay will give the Belgian Institute for Postal Services as well as the extension of 2G and 3G authorizations
and Telecommunications (BIPT) more time to consider beyond the current expiry date of 15 March 2021, due
the deal, first announced in July 2019. Telenet, which to delays in finalizing an auction. The consultation will
argues the tie-up will limit competition and hamper also examine plans for operators to pay a license fee for
innovation, welcomed the announcement, describing it use of the 3.4GHz-3.8GHz frequency band, similar to
as ‘a step in the right direction’. Orange and Proximus, that applied to the 800MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, 2GHz
meanwhile, stressed they had already taken steps and 2.6GHz bands. Stakeholders have until 29 January
to allay the regulator’s concerns and claimed the 2020 to submit their views. (January 2, 2020) commsupdate.com

An auction of 5G spectrum in Brazil could be delayed and there was no timetable for the auction to be held
by 12 months as regulator Anatel remains embroiled in at this stage. The delay represents a setback for
a dispute over the rules of the process, Financial Times major equipment vendors, which are expected to bid
(FT) reported. The auction was scheduled to be held in for lucrative contracts to supply 5G equipment and
Brazil March, but this was pushed to at least the end of the infrastructure to operators in the country. In mid-
year: analysts told FT a Q1 2021 date was more likely. 2019, Nokia’s Latin America CTO Wilson Cardoso told
An official timeline could be revealed in February when Mobile World Live Brazil would be home to the world’s
Anatel’s board meets, but a public consultation and biggest auction of 5G suitable frequencies. Ericsson
judicial review still need to be held. A representative also had high hopes for the country, announcing in
for Anatel said the consultations had been postponed November 2019 it would invest BRL1 billion ($244

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