Page 84 - SAMENA Trends - January 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

US Government Mulls Program to Boost Open 5G

The US government began consulting Department of Defence (DoD) in 2019, later. In September 2020, it also issued a
on potential approaches to spur adding the ultimate goal was to create a call for information on spectrum sharing. It
development of an open 5G ecosystem, competitive challenge which “maximizes previewed its full 5G strategy in May 2020,
as it moves to offset potential the benefit to both the open 5G stack outlining goals to spur development of key
interoperability issues which could hinder market and the DoD on an accelerated technologies including open architecture,
the technology. In a notice of inquiry, schedule”. Comments are due by 10 mmWave and dynamic spectrum sharing;
the National Telecommunications and February. In October 2019, the DoD detailed influence 5G standards to its benefit; and
Information Administration (NTIA) sought the creation of 5G test beds at military mitigate security vulnerabilities.
recommendations from the industry on sites, with contracts for trials issued a year
the goals and focus areas for a program
designed to promote open infrastructure
and software in 5G networks and services.
The NTIA is also seeking details on how a
5G Challenge scheme could be designed
to “focus on the greatest impediments
to maturation of end-to-end open 5G
stack development”; what incentives
could be used to maximize collaboration
and interoperability; and the timeline for
executing the plan. US authorities have
already proposed open RAN systems as
an alternative to equipment from Chinese
vendors including Huawei and ZTE. The
NTIA noted the proposed program would
boost a 5G initiative launched by the

US C-Band Auction Smashes FCC Record

A US sale of C-Band spectrum (3.7GHz quickly make the C-Band a critical part of will be announced upon completion of this
to 4.2GHz) closed its first phase with a 5G rollout in the United States”. He noted phase. In a LinkedIn post, mobile network
staggering $80.9 billion in bids after 97 bids were placed for all 5,684 available provider BitPath’s COO Sasha Javid noted
rounds, shattering the country’s previous licenses, adding proceeds from the initial the assignment phase typically takes
auction record. In a statement, Federal phase of the sale crushed a previous high about a month, and reiterated earlier
Communications Commission (FCC) of $44.9 billion set by the agency’s AWS- warnings from analysts the auction’s high
Chairman Ajit Pai said the early results 3 auction, which closed in January 2015. tally “could result in slower buildout, high
“represent a strong endorsement by the The auction now enters an assignment prices for consumers, less stock buybacks
private sector of the service rules and phase during which winning bidders will and missed targets for debt reduction”.
transition plan put in place by the FCC to compete for specific frequencies. Winners

PTA Renews PTCL License For 25 Years

State-backed telco Pakistan and allows the company to provide all upfront payment of 0.66% of PTCL’s annual
Telecommunication Company Limited telecom services – with the exception of gross revenue plus an annual levy of 0.5%
(PTCL) has completed the renewal of its mobile services – on a nationwide basis. of gross revenues and the operator is also
integrated telecom service license for the Under the renewed license, PTCL is subject obliged to contribute a total of 2.0% of its
next 25 years, with effect from 1 January to ‘enhanced quality of service (QoS) annual gross revenues to the Universal
2021. Sector watchdog the Pakistan parameters’ and a 5% annual increase in Service Fund (USF) and Research and
Telecommunication Authority (PTA) notes Next Generation Access Network (NGAN) Development Fund.
that the concessions is technology neutral connections. The license fee comprised an

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