Page 75 - SAMENA Trends - January 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

REGULATORY NEWS

Algeria Connects to More International Internet Cables

Algeria has a steadily developing telecom that the pandemic continues to have a citizens can continue to make optimum use
infrastructure with growth encouraged by significant impact on production and of telecom services. This can be reflected
sympathetic regulatory measures and by supply chains globally. During the coming in subsidy schemes and the promotion
government policies aimed at delivering year the telecoms sector to various of tele-health and tele-education, among
serviceable internet connections across degrees is likely to experience a downturn other solutions.
the country. Fixed internet speeds in mobile device production, while it may Key developments:
remain slow, and the country ranks also be difficult for network operators to • Regulator again provides MNOs with
poorly in international tables. Some manage workflows when maintaining and additional spectrum to address poor
efforts are ongoing to address this, with upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall services;
the government having pressed Algérie progress towards 5G may be postponed • Government approves procedures for
Télécom in early 2021 to increase the or slowed down in some countries. On implementing MNP, argues for upgrades
minimum rate available from 4Mb/s to the consumer side, spending on telecoms to LTE networks before MNOs invest in
10Mb/s. Mobile broadband is largely services and devices is under pressure 5G;
based on 3G and LTE, and the data rates are from the financial effect of large-scale • MNO’s LTE infrastructure reaches all 48
also low in global terms. Although LTE is job losses and the consequent restriction provinces, though QoS is considered
available in all provinces, much investment on disposable incomes. However, the poor;
is required from the MNOs to improve crucial nature of telecom services, both • Government initiates national
the quality of service. The government for general communication as well as a infrastructure project to replace copper
is encouraging the MNOs to undertake tool for home-working, will offset such network with fiber;
upgrades to LTE infrastructure before pressures. In many markets the net • VEON sells its entire 45.57% stake in
investing in commercial 5G services. effect should be a steady though reduced OTA to the Algerian National Investment
Intensifying price competition between increased in subscriber growth. Although Fund;
the three MNOs – Mobilis, Djezzy and it is challenging to predict and interpret • Report update includes the regulator’s
Ooredoo Algeria – together with increases the long-term impacts of the crisis as it market data update to June 2021,
in taxes on voice and data services, have develops, these have been acknowledged telcos’ financial and operating data
had a negative effect on operator revenue. in the industry forecasts contained in to Q3 2021, Telecom Maturity Index
The difficult operating climate encouraged this report. The report also covers the charts and analyses, assessment of
VEON to sell its entire share in Djezzy in responses of the telecom operators as well the global impact of Covid-19 on the
mid-2021, allowing it to focus on its more as government agencies and regulators telecoms sector, recent market data
profitable markets. BuddeComm notes as they react to the crisis to ensure that developments.

AT&T, Dish Network Dominate US 3.45GHz Auction

The Federal Communications Commission The auction generated a total of $22.5 Rosenworcel stated Auction 110 “saw
(FCC) announced results of Auction billion for the US government, making it a substantial increase in the number of
110, revealing AT&T, Dish Network and the third-largest spectrum auction in the winning bidders per market” compared
T-Mobile US as the biggest winners of nation’s history behind a C-Band sale in with the C-Band auction. She argued this
licenses to use the 3.45GHz mid-band 2021 ($81 billion) and the AWS-3 sale is a positive sign for competition in the
spectrum. AT&T outspent its competitors in 2015 ($44 billion). FCC Chair Jessica markets with multiple winning bidders.
and secured more licenses than any other
bidder, committing just over $9 billion for
1,624 permits. Dish Network, bidding as
Weminuche, spent $7.3 billion on 1,232.
T-Mobile US committed $2.9 billion for 199
licenses. The operator already has a mid-
band spectrum portfolio acquired through
its takeover of Sprint, and is ahead of AT&T
and Verizon in mid-band 5G deployments.
75 JANUARY 2022