Page 99 - SAMENA Trends - January 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Partners, the bidding vehicle used by Novator Partners announced that December’s multi-band spectrum
– the Icelandic-owned, London-based owner of Chilean auction generated a total of COP5 billion (USD1.5
upstart operator WOM – has asked Colombia’s Ministry billion). The watchdog summarizes the results as
of Information Technologies and Communications follows:
Colombia (MinTIC) to retract one of its offers in last month’s • Claro acquired 20MHz in the 700MHz band and
spectrum auction, after accidentally entering a bid ten 30MHz in the 2500MHz band;
times higher than the going rate. As per MinTIC bidding • Tigo acquired 40MHz in the 700MHz band, but
documents, the newcomer mistakenly entered a bid was unable to bid on 2500MHz frequencies due to
of COP1.748 trillion (USD534.2 million) for Block 2 in spectrum caps;
the 2500MHz band, well ahead of its bids for Block • Partners (a bidding vehicle for Novator Partners, the
5 (COP293.2 billion) and Block 6 (COP173.5 billion). Icelandic-owned, London-based owner of Chilean
Partners seeks to have the higher bid removed from the upstart operator WOM) acquired 20MHz in the
auction proceedings, but the other 2500MHz blocks 700MHz band and 30MHz in the 2500MHz band;
are unaffected by the request. A statement issued and
by the MinTIC on 3 January confirmed: ‘The operator • Telefonica Colombia, which had registered to
indicates that there is an inconsistency in the value participate, did not win any spectrum.
offered in one of the blocks and incurred in error … MinTIC notes that a 2×2.5MHz 1900MHz block went
the MinTIC, in the light of the rules established in the unsold as did a 10MHz block of 700MHz spectrum.
auction, and the regulations in force, will study the The 700MHz spectrum licenses are understood to
application and will decide on it in the coming weeks.’ include obligations to bring 4G connectivity to 3,658
(January 6, 2020) commsupdate.com rural locations across 32 departments of the country,
including the San Andres archipelago; all rural 4G
Colombia’s Ministry of Information Technologies networks must be operational in less than five years.
and Communications (Ministerio de Tecnologias de (January 2, 2020) commsupdate.com
la Informacion y las Comunicaciones, MinTIC) has

The distribution of 5G spectrum in Estonia is still on of national and regional licenses to be made available,
hold following the latest legal challenge against the allowing smaller players like itself to enter the 5G
terms of the planned auction. Last month the Circuit market. The matter has been confused by reports that
Court in Tallinn upheld a decision by the Ministry of Levikom is behind with its tax payments, meaning it
Estonia Economic Affairs and Communications (MKM) to offer could well have been barred from participating in the
three 5G licenses in the 3400MHz-3800MHz band. The 5G auction process anyway. Eesti Rahvusringhaaling
Ministry was forced to postpone the auction in March (ERR) cites Ministry spokesperson Laura Laaster
2019 when fixed-wireless and IoT operator Levikom as saying: ‘The court dispute has no doubt slowed
challenged the terms, saying that offering just three down the process of issuing frequency permits and
concessions would hamper competition by favoring consequently the development of 5G networks. At the
the trio of incumbent cellcos. Levikom has now same time, we cannot say Estonia has fallen far behind
appealed last month’s court ruling, taking the matter other countries.’
to the country’s Supreme Court. Levikom wants a mix (January 23, 2020) commsupdate.com

French communications regulator Arcep officially megahertz will then be sold with a reserve price for
opened applications for the sale of 5G spectrum each lot of €70 million. Each operator can acquire
licenses, Arcep said in a statement. Interested operators a minimum of 40 megahertz and maximum of 100
will have until February 25 to submit their applications. megahertz in the process. Authorities expect to raise
France This announcement follows the confirmation of pricing at least €2.2 billion with the sale of 5G licenses. The
and terms released by Arcep in mid-December. Arcep regulator had also said that the use of the 3.4-3.8 GHz
also confirmed that it plans to conduct the allocation band will be complemented by other bands, each of
procedure and award the frequency licenses to the which will help reach the full potential of 5G. These
winning candidates in the first half of 2020. Under the include the 700 MHz band, which was already allocated
terms of the spectrum auction, France’s four existing to operators in France in 2015, and the 26 GHz band,
operators will be offered 50 megahertz of spectrum in which will be allocated at a later date. The country’s
the 3.4-3.8 GHz bands at a fixed price of €350 million four operators Orange, SFR, Iliad and Bouygues are
($389 million) for each block. Further blocks of 10 all expected to take part in the upcoming 5G auction.

99 JANUARY 2020