Page 133 - SAMENA Trends - July-August 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

PTA Directs Telecom Companies to Provide Free Calls in Flood Affected

Areas of Balochistan

Following the devastating floods in Balochistan, Pakistan
Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has directed service providers
to facilitate their customers by providing free of charge services in
the calamity-hit areas. A news release issued here on Tuesday said
that PTA stood by the people of Balochistan, and would continue
to monitor the communication channels in the food-hit areas and
provide regular updates. Following the directions of PTA and as
part of the corporate social responsibility, Jazz for the next seven
days is offering free on-net (same network) and PTCL calls to its
subscribers. There will be no call setup charges applicable on call
connection, and customers having no balance will be able to make
on-net calls.

US 2.5GHz Auction Passes USD400m Mark After a Month of Bidding

Bidding activity in Auction 108 – the Federal Communications in the 2496MHz-2690MHz (2.5GHz) band. Up to three blocks of
Commission’s (FCC’s) sale of unused spectrum in the 2.5GHz spectrum are being licensed on a county basis. Notable bidders
band – remains sluggish as the process approaches the one- include: Cellco Partnership (Verizon Wireless), AT&T Auction Hold-
month mark. At the close of Round 59 (Wednesday 24 August) the ings, United States Cellular Corporation (UScellular), T-Mobile Li-
gross proceeds stood at USD410.233 million. Tellingly, one-quarter cense (T-Mobile US) and Cellular South Licenses (C Spire). As of
of this figure was committed on the first day of the auction, and Round 59 only 69 (out of 8,017) licenses have attracted more than
bidding has been underwhelming ever since. Auction 108 is offer- one bidder, while 145 licenses have yet to attract a bid.
ing approximately 8,000 flexible‐use geographic overlay licenses

FCC Approves Sale of Lumen ILEC Business to Apollo; Deal Expected to
Close in 4Q22

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved consumer, small business, wholesale and enterprise customer
the previously announced sale of Lumen Technologies’ incumbent ILEC operations in 20 states to Apollo-managed funds for USD7.5
local exchange carrier (ILEC) business in 20 states to funds billion, including the assumption of approximately USD1.4 billion of
managed by Apollo Global Management. With this approval, debt. Subsequently, in November 2021 Apollo announced that the
the transaction has now received all final regulatory clearances assets would be rebranded as Brightspeed post-transaction. The
needed to close. Pending other customary closing conditions, the new company will be headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.
deal is expected to close early in the fourth quarter. Previously, on
3 August 2021 Lumen announced an agreement to sell its local

Indonesian Govt Looking to Drive Telecoms Infrastructure Expansion

Indonesia’s Minister of Communication and Information Johnny become enablers. The two major issues are not only in the ICT
G Plate has said that the government is focused on accelerating infrastructure but also in enabling it. This is what all of us must
the deployment of telecoms infrastructure across the country. work on in a collaborative manner.’ The minister confirmed that
The Jakarta Globe reports the minister as saying: ‘Now there has this includes providing internet access, base transceiver station
been a technological disruption and the acceleration of digital (BTS), fiber-optic network Palapa Ring and multifunction satellite
transformation and so on, in which telecommunications must services.

133 JULY-AUGUST 2022