Page 99 - SAMENA Trends - January 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Czech Telecommunications Office (ČTÚ) will 33 Euro on 20 GB of data, while Czechs would have
launch a price and quality index for mobile services to pay almost 55 Euro for the same amount. A 2017
in February. The index will compare calls, SMS, and study by the organization telefonujici.cz found that
data services. For fixed location services (ie fixed mobile tariffs in the Czech Republic were on average
Czech lines), the consumer will be able to to compare the 79% higher than the EU average. The arrival of a fourth
prices for calling, internet, and television services. At
nationwide operator was supposed to contribute to
Republic the same time, the ČTÚ is also preparing a decree, their reduction. In the end, the three Czech mobile
the aim of which is to determine the scope, form and operators (Vodafone, T-Mobile, and O2 Czech Republic)
manner of transmitting information from operators for won frequencies in an auction linked to future next-
the purposes of operating this tool. In recent years, generation 5G networks. As of this year, operators must
domestic prices of telecommunications services, state in contracts the exact Internet connection speed
especially mobile data, have been criticized by some provided. There are about 15 million active SIM cards in
government officials as being higher than elsewhere the Czech Republic. Almost 3.3 million customers use
in Europe. According to a 2018 EU Commission the Internet connection via fixed networks.
analysis, the average EU customer spends around (January 9, 2021) praguemorning.cz

The Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Instituto bands. As per Indotel documentation, nine 2×5MHz
Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones, Indotel) blocks of 700MHz spectrum will be made available,
presented the tender specifications for its planned 5G alongside 16 10MHz blocks of 3.5GHz spectrum.
auction at an online event held on 28 December. The The sale process will commence this month and is
Dominican regulatory authority confirmed that the sale process expected to conclude in August. All licenses will have a
duration of 20 years.
will involve the allocation of frequencies in the 698MHz-
Republic 806MHz (700MHz) and 3300MHz to 3460MHz (3.5GHz) (January 4, 2021) commsupdate.com

The French government has increased state support for country’s leading cellco in terms of subscribers, has
the deployment of fiber-optic networks in the country been authorized to operate 1,953 BTS in the 2100MHz
to EUR3.57 billion (USD4.31 billion). Under the France and 3500MHz frequency bands, with the operator’s
Relance project, the government will provide EUR570 CEO Stephane Richard saying in an interview with
France million of additional funds for the deployment of fiber local newspaper Journal du Dimanche that the 5G
in rural areas, with EUR420 million to be distributed
network has now been activated in 160 cities across
to public initiative networks not yet subsidized by the the country. Going forward, Orange is aiming to deploy
government. These will include the following projects: 5G in 30 other cities, such as Aix-en-Provence, Brest
Seine et Marne (led by Seine-et-Marne Numerique, and Toulon, while 5G services will be activated in the
EUR6.5 million), Aude (SYADEN, EUR9.5 million), capital Paris in Q1 2021. Second-largest operator by
Auvergne (Auvergne Digital Agency, EUR123 million), subscribers, Altice France (SFR), has been authorized
Cher (Berry Numerique, EUR16 million) Dordogne to build a total of 2,048 5G-enabled NR sites in the
(Perigord Numerique, EUR45 million), Doubs (Doubs 2100MHz (1,700) and 3500MHz (775) frequency
Tres Haut Debit, EUR5 million), Haute-Savoie (SYANE, bands. For its part, Bouygues Telecom had permission
EUR15 million), Indre (Open Fixed Syndicate RIP 36, to operate 3,553 5G sites in the 2100MHz band and
EUR20 million), Manche (Manche Numerique, EUR46.3 821 BTS in the 3500MHz band, with the operator now
million), Sarthe (Sarthe Numerique, EUR6.5 million) and claiming to cover 25 cities with a population of over
Brittany (Megalis, EUR150 million). The France Relance 70,000 (equivalent to over 1,000 municipalities) with
program is part of the Tres-Haut Debit (THD) project 5G. Lastly, Free Mobile claimed the top spot with a
aiming to cover 100% of the French population with total of 12,895 authorized 5G sites across two bands:
very-high speed broadband services (>30Mbps) by 12,894 in the 700MHz band and 941 in the 3500MHz
2022. (January 19, 2021) commsupdate.com band. Meanwhile, the number of 4G sites in operation
in France reached 47,498 BTS by 7 January, while the
France’s independent telecoms regulator, the number of 3G-enabled sites stood at 48,369.
National Agency of Frequencies (Agence Nationale (January 13, 2021) commsupdate.com
des Frequences, ANFR), has published its monthly
update on the number of base transceivers stations French telecoms regulator ARCEP has published
(BTS) in the country, reporting that it had authorized Decision No. 2020-1455-RDPI, ordering Free Caraibe
a total of 18,039 5G New Radio (NR) sites (excluding to comply with its first deployment obligations in
shared sites) by January 2021. Orange France, the the French overseas territories (FOT) of Guadeloupe,

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