Page 154 - SAMENA Trends - July-August 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecoms regulator the Belgian Institute for Postal
Telecommunications (BIPT) has announced the Services and Telecommunications (BIPT) has proposed
conclusion of the final phase of its multi-band spectrum extending the 2G and 3G spectrum licenses held by
auction. Following completion of the tender for new 5G Proximus, Telenet and Orange Belgium for another six
Belgium spectrum (700MHz and 3600MHz) and existing 2G and months from 15 September 2022, to give it time to
3G frequencies (900MHz, 1800MHz and 2100MHz) on finalize the new permits auctioned last month. Originally
20 June 2022, raising EUR1.2 billion (USD1.23 billion), due to expire on 15 March 2021, the 900MHz, 1800MHz
the second and final phase of the auction to allocate and 2100MHz permits have already been prolonged by
20-year user rights to another 90MHz of frequencies three six-month periods to ensure continuity of services.
in the 1400MHz band yielded EUR216.54 million, The operators will once again be liable for a one-off fee
bringing the total amount raised to almost EUR1.419 of EUR51,644 (USD56,516) per MHz per month for the
billion. Proximus successfully bid EUR108.89 million for 900MHz band (including user rights for the 1800MHz
45MHz of 1400MHz spectrum (1472MHz-1517MHz), frequencies) and EUR20,833 per MHz per month for the
Orange Belgium paid EUR69.65 million for 30MHz 2100MHz band. This means Proximus will pay around
(1427MHz-1457MHz), and Telenet obtained 15MHz EUR11.4 million, Orange EUR10.9 million and Telenet
(1457MHz-1472MHz) for EUR38 million. EUR8.4 million. (July 14, 2022) commsupdate.com
(July 21, 2022) commsupdate.com

The Authority for the Regulation and Oversight of Peru-based Balesia owns and operates cell towers and
Telecommunications and Transport (Autoridad de fiber infrastructure in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua,
Regulacion y Fiscalizacion de Telecomunicaciones y Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina.
Transportes, ATT) has announced that it has blocked (August 30, 2022) www.commsupdate.com
Bolivia the recent sale of NuevaTel PCS (Viva) to Balesia Edgar Montano, Bolivia’s Minister of Public Works,
Technologies, citing a lack of transparency. The
intervention follows a recent announcement from Services and Housing, and Nestor Rios, the director
US-based Trilogy International Partners (TIP), which of the Authority for the Regulation and Oversight of
confirmed that the deal closed in the second quarter Telecommunications and Transportation (Autoridad
of 2022. In a statement dated 22 August, Nestor de Regulacion y Fiscalizacion de Telecomunicaciones
Rios, Executive Director of the ATT, commented: ‘The y Transportes, ATT), have launched a tender for the
information provided is not transparent. It is not enough implementation of a new National Integrated Radio
for this authority to make an affirmative statement Spectrum System (Sistema Integrado Nacional del
to authorize the transfer of Viva. The rejection of the Espectro Radioelectrico, SINER), as the authorities seek
transfer request from the Viva to Balesia Technologies to ‘regularize’ the frequencies currently in use and pave
has been notified. This decision will also be subject the way for the introduction of 5G technology. National
to control and supervision. We will ensure that this and international companies interested in bidding for
measure is complied with and that the sector is the contract have until 12 September to respond to the
regulated.’ The deal – which was first announced in tender. The tender is expected to be worth BOB169.7
March 2022 – involved the transfer of Trilogy’s 71.5% million (USD24.0 million).
indirect equity interest in its Bolivian subsidiary to (July 6, 2022) commsupdate.com
Balesia Technologies, for a nominal purchase price.

The National Telecommunications Agency (Agencia green-lit for SA 5G, with Vivo, TIM and Claro all switching
Nacional de Telecomunicacoes, Anatel) has confirmed on services during the week commencing 4 July. Belo
that the country’s national mobile operators are now Horizonte, Joao Pessoa, Porto Alegre were next in line,
able to launch Standalone (SA) 5G services using the with launches from 29 July, with Sao Paulo following on
Brazil 3.5GHz frequency band in a further three state capitals, 4 August. (August 17, 2022) www.commsupdate.com
namely: Curitiba (Parana), Goiania (Goias) and Salvador
(Bahia). As per the regulator’s announcement, SA 5G The National Telecommunications Agency (Agencia
has been permitted since yesterday (16 August). Going Nacional de Telecomunicacoes, Anatel) has confirmed
forward, band administrator Siga Antenado anticipates that the country’s 3.5GHz spectrum holders have been
that the cities of Florianopolis (Santa Catarina), Palmas permitted to launch Standalone (SA) 5G services in
(Tocantins), Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro) and Vitoria Sao Paulo. As per the licensing conditions, each of the
(Espirito Santo) should be able to receive 3.5GHz 3.5GHz licensees – Telefonica Brasil (Vivo), Claro and
services by 29 August. Brasilia was the first location TIM Brasil – are each obliged to install 154 5G base

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