Page 161 - SAMENA Trends - July-August 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Airtel Africa has announced that its Kenyan subsidiary said it will also allow for future 5G rollout, ‘providing
has purchased 60MHz of additional spectrum in the significant capacity to accommodate its continued
2600MHz band from the Communications Authority strong data growth in the country’. Airtel Africa noted
of Kenya (CA) for USD40 million. The license is valid that the investment reflects its continued confidence in
Kenya from July 2022 for a period of 15 years. Airtel Kenya will the Kenyan market, supporting the local communities
use the additional spectrum to support its 4G network and economies through furthering digital inclusion and
capacity expansion in the market for both mobile data connectivity.
and fixed wireless home broadband services. The firm (July 26, 2022) commsupdate.com

The telecoms watchdog the Communications service provision obligations, including requirements to:
Regulatory Authority (Rysiu Reguliavimo Tarnyba, RRT) launch commercial 5G services in at least one city from
has commenced the auction of 5G mobile spectrum 2023; deploy 5G networks in major cities from 2024;
in the 3.5GHz band, reports Verslo Zinios. The tender and extend 5G coverage to all towns and compact built-
Lithuania comprises the sale of three 100MHz blocks of up areas by 2030. An additional 5G spectrum auction
comprising frequencies in the 700MHz band, which
spectrum in the 3400MHz-3700MHz range, with initial
prices set at EUR3 million (USD3.0 million) per lot. kicked off in May, is still ongoing.
Spectrum licenses are valid for an initial period of 20 (July 13, 2022) commsupdate.com
years. Winning bidders are subject to certain rollout and

The government of Macau has renewed the 3G and 4G nearly three years after operators launched in Hong
licenses of incumbent cellcos CTM, Hutchison Telecom Kong. Macau Daily Times reported CTM, SmarTone,
Macau (3), SmarTone Macau and China Telecom 3 Macau and China Telecom have until 12 August to
Macau. The expiry dates of 3G concessions have been submit bids and detailed network construction plans.
Draft
Macau extended from June 2023 to June 2025, while those The government set the target for winners to cover 50
for 4G have been extended from June 2023 to June
per cent of the territory within 12 months of receiving
2028. The cellcos are currently awaiting the award of a license and full coverage within 18 months. CTM
5G licenses, which is expected to take place early next claims its 5G network has been fully operational since
year. (July 26, 2022) commsupdate.com June 2021 and pushed the government to hold a tender
for the incumbents, the newspaper stated. Mobile
The Macau Post and Telecommunications Bureau operators in Hong Kong launched 5G services in Q2
(CTT) reportedly called on mobile operators to bid for 2020. (July 5, 2022) mobileworldlive.com
four 5G licenses, with commercial services of the next-
generation technology expected to start in Q1 2023,

Dutch telecom regulator Agentschap Telecom (AT) will the Netherlands. The first measurement results should
over the coming few months start checking the coverage come out in the fourth quarter.
of the 700 MHz licenses. The three MNOs must achieve (August 25, 2022) www.telecompaper.com
at mobile internet speeds of at least 8 Mbps throughout
The
Netherlands

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) communications industry. This Public Inquiry is also in
has commenced public inquiry on some draft telecom tandem with the Commission’s strategy of consulting
regulations and guidelines as part of its commitment its stakeholders in all its regulatory interventions. The
Nigeria to address challenges in the Country’s communication regulatory instruments being reviewed cut across
sector. At the opening ceremony the Executive Vice
all sectors/segments of the telecommunications
Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta noted that these industry. guidelines on technical specifications for the
key regulatory instruments have been developed to deployment of communications infrastructure. “The
address the challenges of the dynamic and ever evolving first instrument, the Type Approval Regulations, provide

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