Page 109 - SAMENA Trends - January 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

7. "How should the Commission and participating Analysts warned high prices in a US auction of
providers promote awareness of the program? C-Band spectrum (3.7GHz to 4.2GHz) could spell
8. "What reporting requirements are needed both bad news for operators, as the tally from the ongoing
during the program and at its conclusion?" sale climbed well beyond $75 billion. Bids hit $76.5
In addition to the $3.2 billion for the Emergency billion after 50 rounds, more than doubling the $30
Broadband Connectivity Fund, the appropriations/aid billion in spending Wells Fargo Securities analysts
bills include $98 million to implement the Broadband expected and beating the $45 billion forecast by
Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability MoffetNathanson. Craig Moffett, a senior analyst for
(DATA) Act, bipartisan legislation enacted in 2020 to the latter, flagged the auction tally as worrisome in a
create a comprehensive national broadband map, research note, arguing operators would “necessarily
$300 million for broadband infrastructure in rural suffer lower returns as a result of having paid more
America, and $250 million for the FCC’s COVID-19 than expected for spectrum that will generate no
Telehealth Program. “Tens of millions of Americans more revenue than expected.” He warned the massive
do not have broadband simply because they cannot investments made in the sale “risk displacing the
afford it," said FCC commissioner Geoffrey Starks. capital investment needed to put the acquired
"No family should have to decide between keeping spectrum to use” and, in a worst-case scenario,
the lights on or getting the household connected, “financially destabilizing one or more players.”
especially during a public health crisis that has However, analysts at Lightshed Partners disagreed,
made being online more essential than ever. The asserting the steep prices would not negatively
Emergency Broadband Benefit is poised to connect impact capex but instead increase pressure on “any
tens of millions of Americans and to jumpstart a high bidder to build more quickly to secure a return
long-term focus on broadband affordability at the on this investment.” The sale began 8 December, with
FCC. This is long overdue for struggling Americans, a total of 280MHz of spectrum and 5,684 licenses
including those who are recently unemployed due in play. Moffett tipped the proceeding to wrap and
to the pandemic... I look forward to engaging with a winners to be announced by “early February.”
wide range of commenters as we develop this vital (January 4, 2021) mobileworldlive.com
program over the next two months."
(January 4, 2021) nexttv.com

The government of Uruguay has approved the months later, a committee comprising representatives
timetable for the long-delayed introduction of mobile from industry regulators and mobile operators was
number portability (MNP), which enables mobile established to prepare for the introduction of MNP. The
users to retain their number if they switch service committee is responsible for formulating a timetable
provider. TeleSemana reports that a number portability for the introduction of MNP, reviewing the numbering
Uruguay database administrator will be selected to manage the plan and determining the costs.
process next month, with contracts and agreements (January 22, 2021) commsupdate.com
with mobile operators expected to follow in March.
By July tests of the system should begin ahead of The state-owned operator ANTEL invested a total of
a commercial launch of MNP on 1 October 2021. USD134 million in its operations last year and plans
Mobile operators will bear the cost of the number to increase total spending to USD152 million in 2021,
transfer process, which should take no more than El Observador cites the company’s President Gabriel
three days to complete. According to TeleGeography’s Gurmendez as saying. This year, ANTEL plans to
GlobalComms Database, Law 19,889/2020, which was increase territorial coverage of its 4G network to 99%,
approved in July 2020, declares that number portability with a view to completing its rollout in 2022. In addition,
is a right of users of mobile telephony services. Article the firm plans to connect around 377 locations with
472 states that operators are obliged to offer MNP mobile services and complete the rollout of its fiber-
under the guidelines provided by the regulator and that to-the-home (FTTH) network in a number of areas,
they will also have to assume the costs of adapting including Las Piedras, Santa Lucia and Ciudad de la
their networks and systems to implement portability. Costa.
These costs cannot be transferred to end-users. Two (January 7, 2021) commsupdate.com

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nology News updates, Snapshot of Regulatory News SAMENA Countries, Regulatory News beyond SAMENA region and Wholesale News updates
have been obtained from sources, which we deem reliable. SAMENA Telecommunications Council is not liable for any misinformed decisions that the
reader may reach by being solely reliant on information contained herein. Expert advice should be sought.

109 JANUARY 2021