Page 150 - SAMENA Trends - June-August 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

100Mbps. (July 14, 2021) commsupdate.com the 26GHz band. The authorizations will be valid for 15
years (extendable for another five years afterwards).
The Agency for Electronic Communications (AEK) Under the license`s terms and conditions, at least one
has opened a public hearing on its intention to award major city must be covered by 5G technology by 2023,
spectrum for 5G use, giving interested parties until 5 in order to allow 5G coverage in all major urban areas
July to submit their expressions of interest (EoI). The and terrestrial transport routes by 2027. By the end
agency plans to grant three approvals for spectrum of 2029, 100% of population must have access to 5G
in the 700MHz band, seven approvals for airwaves in signal with minimum downlink of 100Mbps.
the 3.6GHz band and four approvals for spectrum in (June 4, 2021) commsupdate.com

A public inquiry on the review of the ‘Access List’, the broadband, and public cellular services in April 2021,
list of telecoms services available to licensees that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia
are subject to price regulation, has been launched Commission (MCMC) has now issued a final decision.
by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia With the regulator confirming that the new MSQoS will
Malaysia Commission (MCMC). A Public Inquiry Paper released be effective from 1 August 2021, it noted: ‘Customer
protection is a priority for MCMC in telecommunication
by the regulator has set out its preliminary views on
the facilities and services to be included, removed services. MSQoS is one of the main instruments used
or amended in the Access List, and it has invited for monitoring to ensure users in the country have
submissions from interested parties by a deadline quality telecommunication services … The new MSQoS
of 18 October 2021. As part of its review, the MCMC will enable customers to ensure that their complaints
has formulated focus areas for the inquiry, noting are resolved and that they experience satisfactory
that ‘the common theme underlying all areas is the services for both fixed line and wireless broadband.’
need to continuously refine the Access List and As previously reported by CommsUpdate, one of the
its implementation, in order to reflect the state of headline amendments to the MSQoS relates to the
competition in the supply of regulated facilities and required speeds for wireless and fixed-wireless access
services’. In terms of the specific focus areas, the (FWA) broadband services. As per the new standards
regulator said these were: ensuring access to Digital that are being introduced, operators will be required to
Nasional Berhad’s (DNB’s) monopoly 5G single provide a download speed of 2.5Mbps 90% of the time
wholesale network; enhancement of ‘High Speed for connections made via both FDD and TDD technology;
Broadband’ (‘HSBB’) network regulation; ensuring by comparison, under the existing QoS standards
and improving access to passive infrastructure; service providers only need to provide downlink rates
continuing development of regulation of transmission of 650kbps 80% of the time for TDD-based subscribers
services; and fostering investment in access network and 65% of the time for those using FDD technology.
infrastructure. (August 23, 2021) commsupdate.com Meanwhile, for FWA broadband services the new QoS
standard will introduce a requirement for operators to
Having previously launched a consultation on ensure 25Mbps downlink speeds 90% of the time.
proposed revisions to the Mandatory Standards for (July 6, 2021) commsupdate.com
Quality of Service (MSQoS) for wireless and fixed

The Malta Communications Authority (MCA) has called channels in the 1800MHz band unassigned and
for expressions of interest in wireless spectrum in the these would be offered as six separate 2×5MHz lots.
1800MHz (1710MHz-1785MHz/1805MHz-1880MHz) At 2.5GHz, meanwhile, there are five unpaired 5MHz
and 2.5GHz (2500MHz-2690MHz) bands. The regulator channels unassigned and these would be auctioned as
Malta says it has received a formal request from a local telco a single 25MHz block. Malta is home to three mobile
network operators (MNOs): GO, Epic and Melita.
for the assignment of radio spectrum in the 2.5GHz
range and is looking to assess demand for frequencies (July 30, 2021) commsupdate.com
in the two bands. There are currently six paired 5MHz

The telecoms watchdog the Agency for Electronic mobile electronic communications networks. Since
Communications and Postal Services (EKIP) has the regulator is legally required to initiate an auction to
opened a consultation regarding its draft plans for reallocate existing radio frequencies no later than six
the upcoming tender of frequencies in the 900MHz, months before expiry of the user rights, it has decided
Montenegro 1800MHz, 2GHz and 2.6GHz bands for use by public to stage a single auction procedure to tender a total of

150 JUN-AUG 2021