Page 140 - SAMENA Trends - June-August 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

the revenue raised by the auction, which could yield a consultation regarding its draft guidelines governing
more than EUR800 million (USD944 million). Under the the provision of ‘unlimited’ internet packages subject
minister’s proposal, the funds will be held in escrow to a fair use policy (FUP), as it believes such offers may
until the regions have reached an agreement. One of the be in conflict with the EU’s Open Internet Regulation.
key proposals is to reserve frequencies for a potential Stakeholders have until 17 September to submit their
fourth mobile network operator (MNO) in order to boost comments. Under the guidelines drawn up by the
competition. The B2B wireless connectivity provider regulator, service providers would not be permitted to
Citymesh has been positioning itself to assume the block internet access once the FUP threshold has been
role and recently confirmed it intends to apply for the reached, while the FUP cannot in principle be applied to
spectrum package. In preparation for its potential new more than 10% of end users of the subscription plan in
role, meanwhile, CEO Mitch De Geest revealed in an question. In the event this limit is exceeded, the provider
interview with L’Echo at the weekend that the company would be required to increase the FUP threshold or
aims to launch a consumer offer by September, via an modify its marketing and contractual conditions to
MVNO deal with Proximus. ‘We want to be aggressive remove any suggestion that ‘unlimited internet’ is
in terms of price,’ he said, adding: ‘If we are to be the available. The BIPT will take action if the operator
fourth operator, we will face the challenge of having fails to implement either of these measures within six
just a few months to launch. We will therefore begin months of surpassing the 10% limit or in the event that
gradually. We won’t have hundreds of thousands of 20% of subscribers are hit by the FUP. In addition, the
direct customers, but the idea is to proceed step by service provider must ensure its ‘reasonable use’ policy
step.’ Nonetheless, the company will continue to focus is clearly understood by customers, by providing easy
on the B2B market. ‘We believe it has greater potential. to understand, precise and up-to-date information in
In the coming years, the number of SIM cards in precontractual documents, the contract itself and on
machines will increase significantly,’ he stated. its website with regard to what exceeding the FUP
(July 20, 2021) commsupdate.com threshold means for the customer. The BIPT expects
service providers to apply the guidelines within six
Telecoms regulator the Belgian Institute for Postal months of their eventual publication.
Services and Telecommunications (BIPT) has begun (July 15, 2021) commsupdate.com

The Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority while the 100Mbps product is being cut from BWP2,800
(BOCRA) has approved a reduction in internet tariffs a month to BWP1,900. BOCRA spokesperson Aaron
by Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC). Nyelesi said: ‘Botswana aims at making ICT affordable
A report from ITWeb states that the monthly cost of a to citizens in order to facilitate learning and working
Botswana 20Mbps connection on a three-year contract will drop from home as the economy grapples with the
from BWP975 to BWP650. A 50Mbps service will see challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.’
the price fall by 40%, from BWP1,985 to BWP1,200, (August 4, 2021) commsupdate.com

After a week-long postponement, Brazil’s Federal The Minister of Communications Fabio Faria has
Court of Accounts (Tribunal de Contas da Uniao, TCU) confirmed that the notice for the auction of 5G-capable
has now approved the public notice for the proposed spectrum should be published by 25 August. The sale,
multi-band 5G spectrum auction. Minister Aroldo which will include frequencies in the 700MHz, 2.3GHz
Brazil Cedraz remains a dissenting voice, but his objections and 3.5GHz bands, as well 26GHz millimeter wave
to the bidding terms are not sufficient to derail the
(mmWave) spectrum, was originally scheduled to be
process. Fabio Faria, the Minister of Communications, held this month but was delayed due to deliberations
is optimistic of staging the long-awaited auction at the Federal Court of Accounts. The Court says it only
in October. The delayed spectrum sale will include received the full documentation from sector regulator
frequencies in the 700MHz, 2.3GHz and 3.5GHz bands, the National Telecommunications Agency (Agencia
as well as 26GHz millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum. Nacional de Telecomunicacoes, ANATEL) on 25 June,
(August 26, 2021) TeleTime and it is now scheduled to rule on the text of the notice
at a meeting scheduled for 18 August.
(July 16, 2021) commsupdate.com

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