Page 80 - SAMENA Trends - January 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

KemKominfo to Take Role in Developing Telecoms Infrastructure in

Indonesia’s New Capital

Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication the government having recently adopted network capacity and last mile access
and Information (MCI, KemKominfo) legislation to relocate the nation’s capital networks in the New IKN which includes
has pledged to take an active role in from DKI Jakarta to Kalimantan – the supporting infrastructure for active and
developing telecommunication services so-called IKN Law – Ministry spokesman passive devices for the implementation
and infrastructure in the country’s new Dedy Permadi confirmed: ‘KemKominfo is of fixed broadband and mobile broadband
National Capital (IKN) in Kalimantan. With currently mapping the needs for backbone services.’

ANACOM Approves Sale of MEO Towers to Cellnex

Portugal’s National Communications Au- (USD245.5 million). The transaction was Altice Europe and Belmont Infra Holding.
thority (Autoridade Nacional de Comuni- approved by the Portuguese Competition OMTEL was said to operate 3,000 sites in
cacoes, ANACOM) has approved the pre- Authority (Autoridade da Concorrencia, Portugal – around 25% of the overall cell
viously agreed takeover of passive tower AdC) on 3 August 2021. TeleGeography towers in the country at that date. Cellnex
infrastructure belonging to PT Portugal notes that the deal represents the latest went on to acquire 2,000 cell sites from
(MEO), by Cellnex-backed CLNX Portugal. in a series of Portuguese transactions for Nos later that year, in a deal worth an ini-
The deal is understood to comprise 223 Cellnex. The company made its first move tial EUR375 million. Last year, meanwhile,
macro-sites and 464 micro-sites (small in January 2020, when it signed a EUR800 Cellnex acquired 65 towers from Onitele-
cells) and is valued at EUR209 million million agreement to acquire OMTEL from com (ONI) via OMTEL.

India Prepares 5G Auction

Indian operators looked set to get the launch 5G services commercially in the
spectrum they need to proceed with fiscal year ending March 2023. Indian
commercial 5G service launches after the operators have conducted limited trials
nation’s Minister of Finance and Corporate of 5G in various cities in preparation,
Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled though all three major providers called for
plans for an auction later this year and allocations in the next auction to be priced
set a target for the launch of services in a way which ensures they have enough
in the next 14 months. In India’s annual cash to finance full deployment. The
budget statement, Sitharaman announced country previously tried to sell 5G-suitable
the provisional timeline for its next spectrum in the 700MHz band alongside
spectrum auction alongside an industrial various other frequencies, but failed to were introduced in 2021 to “catalyze
scheme she said would deliver design- attract bids due to high reserve prices further investment in next generation
led manufacturing and build a strong 5G as cash-strapped operators focused technologies” and relieve the pressure on
ecosystem. Operators are expected to on 4G. A number of structural reforms financially struggling operators.

Telecoms Minister Asks Operators to Phase Out 3G Networks

Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication Plate said: ‘This 4G signal is the backbone need to address how it could achieve
and Information (MCI, aka KemKominfo) of our national communication. I’ve also this given that currently, some 83,218
has reportedly asked the country’s asked the cellular operators to fade out villages/kelurahan are still not covered by
incumbent mobile network operators 3G. Why is 3G being faded out instead of 4G networks, while out of 12,548 villages/
(MNOs) to phase out 3G mobile technology 2G? Because it’s a different user. 2G is kelurahan, 9,113 are located in the Frontier,
in favor of bolstering 4G or 5G coverage voice communication, while 3G is data Remotest and Disadvantaged (so-called
for mobile data services. Minister of communication.’ However, local industry ‘3T’) areas.
Communication and Information Johnny G watchers note that the government will

80 JANUARY 2022