Page 97 - SAMENA Trends - January 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

JobMaker plan announced in June last year. With the in joint applications.” “Telstra noted that ‘partnerships
5G initiative currently under design, Australia’s three will be an integral component of any grant applications
mobile network operators (MNOs) - Optus, Telstra that demonstrate new, compelling uses of 5G’; in
and TPG Telecom - are all pushing the case for particular, Telstra identified that joint applications
partnership to be a key criteria for applicants to get will be critical for bringing together different aspects
access to the government funding. Optus is the most of emerging technologies and will be necessary to
public of the three in pushing for MNO involvement demonstrate the full potential of 5G,” the government
in funded projects, expressing alarm at the prospect noted. “Optus and TPG Telecom also raised the
of projects being funded “without any involvement importance of working with the telecommunications
from an MNO”. “Optus has been concerned to note sector as a partner to deliver high quality projects
preliminary feedback which suggests the initiative in a timely manner”, it added, saying some of this
might be structured in such a way that applications for commentary came directly from an industry workshop.
projects could be progressed without any involvement Optus argues that any 5G trial will ultimately require
from an MNO,” it said in a submission. “This would infrastructure and spectrum to check that it can scale
be ill-advised, as MNOs have existing expertise, - and that trialists should use existing 5G networks,
infrastructure, and access to spectrum. “There is a rather than spend any government money building
real risk that the funding under this initiative may be their own, in order to prove their concept scales
exhausted on niche projects that have no pathway appropriately. In its own submission [pdf], Telstra
to scalability, or granted to applicants that are not similarly argues that government funding should not
in the business of networks and are not equipped to be spent on “the deployment of 5G infrastructure or
consider 5G as a holistic technology solution. “Strong testbeds”, but instead be concentrated on developing
participation by the MNOs will likely produce better new use cases for 5G. Part of the argument stems
results and a better return for taxpayer funding. “The from the relatively small amount of money on offer
government should consider the suitability of framing for the scheme, with funded projects likely to fall
… partnership as a requirement in all applications to the into the $500,000 to $1 million range, though various
initiative.” Optus also pressed the case for “minimum parties had sought slices of between $200,000 and $2
quotas of projects” to be “awarded to MNOs who lodge million through the initial consultation process. The
compliant applications”. Optus is not alone in pressing government is currently formulating the guidelines for
the case for partnership with a telco to be a key criteria grant funding and expects to make them available - as
to secure government funding. Communications well as open applications - early this year.
officials noted on December 23 last year [pdf] that “the (January 5, 2021) itnews.com.au
telecommunications industry saw significant potential

The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority analysis to support any recommendations made.’ The
(URCA) has confirmed that it is evaluating the feasibility evaluation process is scheduled to commence in the
of licensing a third Bahamian mobile operator first quarter of 2021 and conclude in 2Q21. According
to compete with Bahamas Telecommunications to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database, BTC’s
Bahamas Company (BTC) and ALIV. As per the recently released monopoly was disrupted just over four years ago,
‘Draft Annual Plan 2021’ document, URCA notes: ‘As when ALIV launched on 23 November 2016. Strategic
set out in the draft electronic communications sector shareholder Cable Bahamas (REV) received the nation’s
policy, the government of the Bahamas will consider second wireless licensee the previous year, defeating
whether further liberalization of the mobile telephone rival bidder Virgin Mobile Bahamas. Digicel Group
market should be undertaken in the form of a third pulled out of the bidding process early on, wary of the
mobile operator. The policy requires that URCA provide strict rollout obligations attached to the concession.
advice and recommendations to the government (January 7, 2021) commsupdate.com
on this matter, including a feasibility and market

The Belgian government approved draft legislation place by early 2022. The process had been stalled by
which will finally enable the country’s long-delayed the lengthy delay in forming a new federal government
5G mobile spectrum auction to be staged. The cabinet and disagreement among the regions over how the
approved five royal decrees proposed by telecoms auction revenues, which are expected to be at least
Belgium minister Petra De Sutter, as well as draft amendments EUR800 million (USD974 million), should be divided.
to the electronic communications law required to The five decrees cover frequency usage in various
proceed with the auction, which is expected to take bands, namely: the allocation of the 2.6GHz band,

97 JANUARY 2021