Page 82 - SAMENA Trends - January 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Masmovil Wins Portugal Newcomer Spectrum

Portugal has concluded the first part particular, the expressed concerns over bigger rivals required to provide network
of its latest spectrum auction and it price breaks on spectrum for a new player access for as much as 10 years, it stands
appears Masmovil has come out on top and requirements to allow that player to a good chance of making its presence
and will therefore become the country’s roam onto their networks. Such was their felt. But, presuming its information is
new mobile network operator. ANACOM ire that the regulator reconsidered – to an correct, what of the competition it faced
announced the completion of phase one extent – and altered the pricing structure for the frequencies? Portugal’s Expresso
of the spectrum sale earlier this week, but for the spectrum, but the big guns speculates that a companies interested
did not divulge the identity of the winner, continued to complain about state aid and in using the spectrum for Internet of
or indeed winners. The regulator simply pledged to continue to challenge the rules, Things (IoT) purposes were bidding for
said the auction of three 5 MHz blocks of including through litigation. Nonetheless, the spectrum, one of whom emerged
1800 MHz spectrum and one block of 900 the auction got underway in December. victorious. However, the news outlet
MHz frequencies had raised €84.35 million While the telcos debated the rights and believes Nowo was barred from taking
after eight days of bidding. Our interest wrongs of the auction rules, industry part in this part of the auction, being
was piqued due to the activity in the 1800- watchers speculated over the likelihood an existing player. It seems more likely
MHz band. While the single lot of 900 MHz of a new market entrant. The name most that Expansion’s information is correct,
spectrum sold for the reserve price of €30 commonly in the frame was Masmovil, and that as a player without existing
million, there was clearly some competition owner of Portuguese cable operator Nowo spectrum assets, Masmovil was permitted
for the 1800 MHz airwaves. The lots and business service provider ONI. Nowo to participate. The suggestion that its
carried a reserve price of just €4 million, already operates as an MVNO in Portugal, competition came from an IoT player
but each ended up more than four times but with a market share of just 2% as of seems highly plausible though. We will
higher at €18.12 million. Given that the the end of Q3, according to Anacom’s have to wait for a formal announcement
spectrum was reserved for a new market data, was hardly a threat to the big three; from the regulator to be certain of the
entrant, that is highly noteworthy. As a to add context, Nos is the smallest of the outcome. In the meantime, the big guns
quick recap, the regulator last year made three with a 26.4% market share, while are set to battle it out for 5G spectrum via
the decision to reserve some 900 MHz leader Nos claims in excess of 40%. an auction of 58 lots of frequencies in the
and 1800 MHz for a newcomer last year, Spanish newspaper Expansion has named 700 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2.1 GHz, 2.6
incurring the wrath of established MNOs Masmovil as the winner of the 1800 MHz GHz and 3.6 GHz bands that is due to get
Vodafone, Meo and Nos, who believed frequencies, which will allow it to become started in the coming days.
the licensing conditions to be unfair. In a fully-fledged operator. And with its

UK Government Looks to 5G to Boost Industry

The UK government announced a £28 million joint investment has provided £15 million of the funding to be shared across
scheme with businesses in the country to fund nine national the nine projects, with the remaining £13 million coming from
projects covering use of 5G in AR, private networks and open RAN. project partners. These include operator EE, which worked with
In a statement, the government explained the 5G Create program technology companies to create a new AR app set to be released
is part of a wider £200 million investment in testbeds and trials alongside a new television series called the Green Planet, which
to explore new ways the technology can boost productivity, enables users to stream holographic videos of parts of the show.
grow existing businesses or spark new ones. The government Fellow operator 3 UK is also involved, working with partners to
improve operations at ports by deploying 5G-powered cranes
and using the technology to enable real-time tracking of the
movement of goods at two locations. Other projects include
work to improve fan experiences at two of the UK’s biggest
venues, while the Eden Project in Cornwall will explore how 5G
and 360-degree video can enhance visitor experiences, in a bid
to boost tourism. In Scotland, trials will explore how 5G can
support the construction industry. Through a dedicated private 5G
network, the technology will be used to power cameras, drones
and sensors at engineering company BAM Nuttall’s sites in three
cities, including Glasgow. Meanwhile, five of the projects will
also test the technical possibilities of open RAN, as part of the
government’s 5G diversification strategy.

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