Page 148 - SAMENA Trends - June-August 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Having already sent a first warning on 1 May 2021 over notification of ‘temporary cessation’ of operations on
total arrears amounting to IDR442 billion (USD31.1 the use of radio frequency spectrum. STI was awarded
million) – with a due date of 1 June – in the face of a Cellular Mobile Network Operation License in the
continued non-payment KemKominfo has now sent 450MHz frequency band under ‘Decree of the Minister
a second, informing Net1 it must make good on the of Communication and Information Number 1660 of
settlement of BHP IPFR obligations on or before 31 July 2016’, dated 20 September 2016. It is licensed to use
or risk the suspension of its license. The ministry notes spectrum in the 450MHz-457.5MHz range paired with
that if Net1 fails to comply with regulation PP5 of 2021, 460MHz-467.5MHz.
it will issue a third warning on 1 August along with the (June 15, 2021) commsupdate.com

Ireland’s Department of the Environment, Climate and the pandemic and challenges around program ramp up
Communications (DECC) has issued an update on the and network rollout, and the updated contracted target
progress of the National Broadband Plan (NBP), noting under this plan is for almost 60,000 premises passed
that despite the ongoing challenges associated with by the end of 2021.
Ireland COVID-19, ‘significant progress has been made in the (August 13, 2021) commsupdate.com
first half of 2021, with a number of key milestones
achieved and momentum building on the project’. In Irish telecoms regulator the Commission for
terms of the rollout progress, the DECC reported that Communications Regulation (ComReg) has published
as of 23 July 2021 a total of 239,361 premises had an Information Notice aimed at providing an update
been surveyed, with deployments covering over 92,000 on its COVID-19 temporary licensing framework –
premises under construction and 19,378 premises able under which licenses are currently due to expire on 1
to either pre-order or order a connection. Main build October 2021. The Information Notice also seeks to
works have been completed in two ‘Deployment Areas’ provide ‘information relevant to the consideration of
(‘DAs’), in Counties Galway and Cavan, while main build any further COVID-19 temporary spectrum licensing
works are said to be progressing with the first premises framework beyond 1 October 2021, including next
expected to be made available for connection to the steps and envisaged consultation timelines regarding
NBP network in 2021 in the following DAs: Ballinasloe, same’. According to the regulator, having initially
Carrigaline, Dundalk, Limerick, Monaghan, Kilcoole, introducing the temporary licensing framework in
Roscommon, Tipperary and Tralee. Dates for first March 2021, it has now outlined the process by which
available connections in early 2022 are also estimated it envisages determining whether its extension may be
for the following DAs: Carlow, Castlebar, Killarney, warranted beyond the current expiry date, ‘in light of
Mullingar, Sligo, Waterford and Wexford. With a total of the prospect of continued Government measures to
45 retail service providers (RSPs) ultimately expected address COVID-19 and the impact this may have on
to offer services to consumers over the NBP network, relevant network operators’. As a next formal step, the
the DECC noted that at present 19 such providers regulator has called for the county’s mobile operators
are ‘actively’ selling services via the in-deployment to submit a joint or common request which would: set
infrastructure across Cavan, Clare, Cork, Galway, out the specific details of the joint/common request
Limerick, Monaghan and Roscommon. Meanwhile, indicating any elements of the existing Temporary
in addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, ECS Licensing framework that ought to be changed
and acknowledging its impact on the delivery of the (if any) and the reasons for same; and provide
NBP, the DECC noted that in May 2021 it had approved sufficiently detailed information based on the updated
a Remedial Plan for 2021 put forward by National and prevailing COVID-19 considerations at that time
Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company rolling out the to support a request for any further Temporary ECS
new high speed fiber broadband network under the Licensing framework. ComeReg has set a deadline of 6
NBP. This Remedial Plan reflects revised targets for August for the joint/common request to be made.
the year taking into account delays encountered due to (July 12, 2021) commsupdate.com

An administrative court in Rome has annulled fines from Reuters, the court found that the AGCM had not
totaling EUR228 million (USD271 million) levied shown that the companies were not acting within their
against Italian telcos Telecom Italia, Vodafone, rights. Italian consumer rights groups reacted angrily
WINDTRE and Fastweb. The telcos were fined last year at the court decision. Massimiliano Dona, president of
Italy by Italy’s Competition Authority (Autorita Garante della consumer association Unione Nazionale Consumatori,
was quoted as saying: ‘It’s a disgrace! That the legal
Concorrenza e del Mercato, AGCM) for collectively
raising tariffs when ordered to switch from a 28-day system in this country doesn’t work is well known, but
billing cycle to monthly billing. According to a report we’ve now touched the bottom.’(July 14, 2021) commsupdate.com
148 JUN-AUG 2021