Page 124 - SAMENA Trends - July-August 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

In a briefing to parliament, the Netherlands’ Ministry of operational by that date the satellite company will retain
Economic Affairs & Climate Policy has warned that the access to an 80MHz block in the 3.5GHz range.
planned national 5G 3.5GHz mobile frequency license (July 12, 2023Telecompaper
auction could see further delays into 2024. The govern-
The ment intends to make the spectrum available for 5G mo- A Dutch industry consortium has been awarded an ini-
Netherland bile services from December, but a court hearing of mul- tial subsidy of EUR61 million (USD66 million) for 6G
tiple appeals against the proposed licensing framework
research and development. The 6G Future Network
is scheduled for mid-October, while the government is Services (FNS) Project, supported by the Ministry of
yet to finalize an agreement with satellite operator In- Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, has been selected
marsat necessary to vacate the 3.5GHz band. In April as one of 18 projects to receive backing under the third
2023 Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport and the Port of round of the Dutch National Growth Fund. The six-year
Rotterdam Authority filed legal actions against the gov- government funding consists of a conditional award
ernment’s 5G 3.5GHz spectrum policy. Furthermore, the of EUR61 million plus a reserve of EUR142 million. The
national licensing plan involves relocation of Inmarsat’s 6G FNS consortium is led by Netherlands Organization
international emergency/safety shipping/aviation com- for Applied Scientific Research and has 60 members,
munication operations from the Netherlands to Greece, including academic institutions, telcos, ICT companies
which the Dutch government hopes will occur by 1 Jan- and semiconductor manufacturers.
uary 2024, but if Inmarsat’s new Greek facilities are not (July 6, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

Following a consultation in 2021, New Zealand’s services; and the 28.35GHz-29.5GHz range will be
government has made a broad decision regarding the primarily allocated for satellite services, with the option
long-term allocation of the 24GHz-30GHz spectrum to include some mobile use under technical conditions.
range. The move is intended to provide the mobile and A work program including technical work, industry
New satellite industries with certainty as the authorities consultation, engagement with the Interim Maori
Spectrum Commission, and assignment processes,
work towards making the spectrum available for long-
Zealand term use in 2026. In the 26GHz band, the government regulatory design and further decision making, will
has allocated the 24.25GHz–27.5GHz spectrum range occur between now and 2026, the Ministry of Business,
primarily for mobile use, with the option to include Innovation and Employment (MBIE) explained in a
some satellite services in certain areas under technical statement. Satellite service providers who hold current
conditions. The 28GHz band, meanwhile, will be split licenses will be allowed to apply for extensions until
into two portions: the 27.5GHz-38.35GHz range will May 2026. (August 10, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
follow a sharing model between mobile and satellite

The Nicaraguan Institute for Telecommunications and December 2021. FM broadcasters were originally given
Posts (Instituto Nicaraguense de Telecomunicaciones twelve months to comply with the decision, but the
y Correos, Telcor) has issued Administrative Agreement process seemingly overran.
001-2023, confirming that its clearance of the 900MHz (August 8, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
Nicaragua band (894MHz-960MHz) drew to a close on 31 July 2023.
Going forward, the vacated frequencies will be used to The National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional), which
support mobile broadband services. Telcor says it will is controlled by President Daniel Ortega’s Sandinista
now determine the economic conditions and allocation National Liberation Front (Frente Sandinista de
mechanisms for the spectrum; this will be based on Liberacion Nacional, FSLN), has approved an overhaul
market demand, relevance of the services and the of the Nicaraguan Institute for Telecommunications and
current regulatory framework. Of the 900MHz band, the Posts (Instituto Nicaraguense de Telecomunicaciones
915MHz-928MHz range has been ratified for dynamic y Correos, Telcor) with the aim of expanding the
channel allocation (DCA) and low-power wide-area regulatory power of the telecoms watchdog. As per
network (LPWAN) devices, as long as they do not cause local press reports, the initiative was presented to the
interference with other authorized telecommunications National Assembly on 2 June and ratified on 13 June.
services. In May 2022 Telcor confirmed that work was The Ortega-Murillo regime has stated that the reform
underway to vacate the 900MHz band airwaves that of Organic Law No. 1053 ‘is intended to provide clarity
were being used by the country’s FM radio operators. and explicitness in relation to Telcor’s powers and
The decision was rubber-stamped by Administrative attributions in terms of regulation, control of the sector,
Agreement No. 005-2021, which was published on 1 as well as the promotion of innovation and investments.

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