Page 94 - SAMENA Trends - January 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

REGULATORY ACTIVITIES BEYOND

THE SAMENA REGION

The Competition Authority (Autoriteti i Konkurrences, transaction that will result in Calik Holding acquiring a
CAA) has authorized the sale of an 80.27% stake in 3.2% stake in 4iG as an institutional investor. The value
full-service provider ALBtelecom from Cetel Telecom – of the deal was not disclosed. The deal was quickly
part of Turkey’s Calik Holding – to Hungarian ICT group followed later that month by another acquisition, with
Albania 4iG. In December 2021 4iG signed an agreement to 4iG inking a pact to takeover mobile provider ONE
acquire a majority interest in the telco via a multi-step Telecommunications. (January 20, 2022) commsupdate.com

Angolan cellco Unitel has joined forces with Ericsson license from the Angolan Institute of Communications
to successfully complete a 5G data call in Angola, (Instituto Angolano das Comunicacoes, INACOM) on
utilizing spectrum in the 3.5GHz band. The test was 20 December. The watchdog confirmed that Unitel,
powered by the vendor’s 5G RAN and Ericsson 5G Movicel and new market entrant Africell all received
Angola Core solutions for Non-Standalone (NSA) networks. unspecified frequencies in the 3.3GHz-3.7GHz range
The conclusion of the trial was announced on 31 as part of the licensing process.
December 2021. TeleGeography notes that Unitel (January 5, 2022) commsupdate.com
was one of three Angolan operators to receive a 5G

The National Communications Agency (Ente Nacional • 2300MHz-2400MHz (2.3GHz band)
de Comunicaciones, ENACOM) has published a list of • 3300MHz-3600MHz (3.5GHz band)
frequencies that it deems suitable for future 5G use. • 24.25GHz-25.75GHz (26GHz band)
The list includes the following spectrum: • 37GHz-43.5GHz (38GHz band)
Argentina • 1427MHz-1518MHz (1500MHz band) A timeline for a 5G spectrum auction has not yet been
• 1770MHz-1780MHz/2170MHz-2200MHz (AWS-3 disclosed, however.
band) (January 5, 2022) commsupdate.com

The Public Services Development Commission of the new owners have earmarked CAPEX of between
Armenia (PSRC) approved the sale of Russian group AMD1.5 billion and AMD1.8 billion (USD3.1 million and
Rostelecom’s Armenian subsidiary Rostelecom USD3.7 million) over the next five years with a specific
Armenia (formerly GNC-Alfa) to Electric Networks of aim of developing the telco’s presence in the provinces.
Armenia Armenia (ENA) – owned by the Tashir Group of Samvel In November 2021 Rostelecom revealed via a filing to
Karapetyan – and the Russian Arman Hunanyan, via the PSRC that it was poised to offload its Armenian
a new joint company registered in Cyprus (Molitro). subsidiary to ENA through an offshore holdings
The estimated value of the deal is USD25 million with company called Molitro. The Tashir Group already has
further funding touted to upgrade and modernize a presence in the Armenian telecoms market, owning a
networks and infrastructure. It is understood that 16% stake in Ucom. (January 20, 2022) commsupdate.com

The government of Azerbaijan is aiming to ensure fixed Baku Telephone Communication (Baktelecom) and
broadband access throughout the entire country by Aztelekom ‘in the near future’, he added. The work,
2024, extending services to more than 700 settlements which will be carried out within the framework of a
that are not currently covered. Speaking at an event public-private partnership, will accelerate the country’s
Azerbaijan last week, Deputy Minister of Digital Development and digital transformation, enhance cybersecurity and
Transport Rovshan Rustamov revealed some 40,000 reduce business and government costs, Rustamov
new users had been connected in the last month, as part noted, adding improved connectivity forms part of
of a target to extend coverage to an additional 150,000 the ‘Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-
households during 2022. To help achieve its goal, the Economic Development’ strategy.
government plans to merge the state-owned operators (January 31, 2022) commsupdate.com
94 JANUARY 2022