Page 126 - SAMENA Trends - July-August 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

According to the latest data from the Philippines’ nationwide by the end of the 90-day extension on
National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), the 25 July 2023. Broken down, PLDT (including Smart
total number of registered mobile SIMs reached almost Communications) had registered approximately 47
100 million – or 59% of the country total – as of 15 June million SIMs (or 71% of its total base) by that date,
Philippines 2023, broadly within the Department of Information followed by Globe Telecom with 45.6 million (52.6%)
and Communications Technology’s (DICT) target of and DITO Telecommunity with 6.8 million (45.7%).
registering between 100 million and 110 million SIMs (June 19, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

All four of Poland’s mobile network operators (MNOs) applications to take part in the sale process by 8 August.
have applied to take part in the forthcoming auction The entire process is expected to take around 150
of 3.5GHz 5G licenses. Although official confirmation days, which should see winning bidders announced in
of qualified bidders is still awaited from the regulator, November. Authorities do not expect bids to rise much
Poland Orange, Play and Plus (Polkomtel) applied well before above the reserve price of PLN450 million (USD111
the 8 August deadline, while T-Mobile has also confirmed million) per 100MHz block, with four blocks available
that it has submitted its application. Authorities are and the country being home to four mobile network
hoping to complete the auction of four 15-year licenses operators (MNOs). The main point of contention will
in the fourth quarter of 2023. (August 9, 2023) Parkiet be that one of the four blocks has a number of local
exclusions due to reservations for civil and military
The government has finally kicked off its long-awaited purposes, so bidders will favor one of the other licenses.
auction of 5G-capable 3.5GHz spectrum, calling for (June 23, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

The telecoms watchdog the National Authority for regarding the current frequency allocations for each
Management & Regulation in Communications of their base stations, as well as the technical and
(ANCOM) has reached an agreement with the telecoms operational parameters. (August 22, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
industry to modify the procedure for granting spectrum
Romania usage rights. The main changes agreed at the Advisory Fixed broadband connections recorded average
Council meeting on 18 August concern certain aspects download speeds of 331Mbps in Romania in 2022, an
relating to the regulation of the shared use of licensed increase of approximate 27% compared to 2021, and
frequency resources, the possibility to lease and transfer average upload speeds jumped by 56% to 280Mbps,
spectrum usage rights, and the simplification of the according to speed tests performed on the Netograf
authorization procedure for base stations forming part website developed by the National Authority for
of public mobile and fixed electronic communications Management and Regulation in Communications
networks. Shared use of spectrum will only be (ANCOM). Over the same period, average mobile
authorized in bands where no additional frequencies internet downlink speeds rose to 38Mbps, a 26%
are available at the time of the request, on condition increase on the previous year, while uplinks were 46%
that competition is not restricted, impeded or distorted, higher year-on-year, at 15Mbps. Based on 133,641 tests
ANCOM explained in a press release. Licensees will performed during the year, the country’s leading mobile
need to secure permission from ANCOM to share the network operators (MNOs) were shown to provide the
spectrum, based on a written agreement between the following average download speeds: Orange Romania
two parties, with each licensee required to fulfil the 57Mbps (an increase from 48Mbps in 2021), Vodafone
individual coverage and/or rollout obligations included Romania 32Mbps (up from 29Mbps), Telekom Romania
in their permits, while taking all necessary measures Mobile Communications 24Mbps (previously 18Mbps)
to avoid harmful interference to legally authorized and RCS&RDS (DIGI) 15Mbps (unchanged year-on-
electronic communications networks. In the case of year). Average fixed broadband speeds were as follows:
leasing or assigning spectrum user rights secured Orange Romania 803Mbps (down from 854Mbps
following payment of a license fee, the regulator can in 2021), RCS&RDS 434Mbps (398Mbps), Orange
only approve the transfer request after determining it Romania Communications (formerly Telekom Romania
will not impede competition or prevent the market from Communications) 379Mbps (324Mbps), Nextgen
functioning normally. In order to simplify authorization Communications 322Mbps (306Mbps), and Vodafone
procedures, licensed operators of public mobile and Romania 307Mbps (243Mbps).
fixed electronic communications networks will be (July 7, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
required to provide ANCOM with a monthly update

126 JULY-AUGUST 2023