Page 154 - SAMENA Trends - June-August 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Filipino mobile network operators (MNOs) Smart Echoing Tamano, Globe Chief Commercial Officer Issa
Communications, Globe Telecom and newcomer Guevarra-Cabreira noted that the company had ‘learned
DITO Telecommunity have successfully completed a lot in the process’ and as a result hoped ‘to make the
initial technical and interoperability tests as part of transition easy and seamless for our customers once
Philippines the government’s implementation of Republic Act No. the MNP becomes available to all’. Meanwhile, Smart’s
11202 (aka the Mobile Number Portability [MNP] Act).
Senior Vice President and Head of Consumer Wireless
In a joint statement the three MNOs confirmed that, Business, Jane Basas, said the tests would allow the
working in conjunction with their joint venture (JV) MNO to ‘understand and recalibrate [its] systems
company Telecommunications Connectivity Inc. (TCI), and processes, so we can make the MNP experience
the initial tests had been ‘within expectations’ meaning simple and easy for our customers’. TeleGeography’s
that soon mobile subscribers across the country will be GlobalComms Database confirms that the MNP Act
able to keep their number when switching to another was signed in February 2019, with implementing rules
provider. Commenting on the development, DITO and regulations (IRR) taking effect from 2 July 2019.
Chief Administrative Officer Adel Tamano said: ‘As The Philippines had intended on introducing MNP in
the newest player in the industry, we truly are excited the first quarter of 2021 under the remit of the Act, but
to provide this service to Filipinos wherever they may the rollout was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic
be. When we entered the industry, it really was to and will start by 30 September 2021. Globe, Smart and
encourage competition and innovation. With the Mobile DITO formed the JV consortium TCI, and tapped global
Number Portability Act, we have broken down barriers firm Syniverse to implement the porting platform.
and have given the Filipinos the power of convenience (July 16, 2021) commsupdate.com
to finally switch to their preferred service provider.’

The consumer watchdog UOKiK has launched mobile network operators (MNOs), plus market regu-
proceedings against mobile network operators lator the Office of Electronic Communications (Urzad
(MNOs) Orange and Play (P4) for charging customers Komunikacji Elektronicznej, UKE). The EUR1.6 billion
for additional services without their consent. The (USD1.95 billion) deal was first announced in Febru-
Poland President of UOKiK, Tomasz Chrostny, said: ‘During ary this year. The transaction will add 7,000 towers to
the Cellnex European footprint, while it is also buying
sales talks, consultants only informed consumers
about the amount of the subscription, they did not active infrastructure including 37,000 radio carriers,
mention the costs of additional services. Remember 11,300km of fiber backbone network and a nationwide
that the inclusion of any services must take place with network of microwave radio links. Cellnex has also
the express and informed consent of the subscriber.’ agreed to roll out 1,500 new sites for Polkomtel, mainly
The operators could be fined up to 10% of their annual for 5G, at a cost of EUR600 million over the next ten
revenue. In June this year the watchdog handed fines years. In October 2020 Cellnex signed a EUR800 million
to T-Mobile and Polkomtel for similar offences. deal to acquire a 60% stake in the infrastructure unit
(July 29, 2021) commsupdate.com of Polish cellco Play. Cellnex Deputy CEO Alex Mestre
commented: ‘This acquisition is a key milestone for
Mobile tower owner Cellnex has been approved to ac- Cellnex. It will strengthen Cellnex’ position in Poland
quire the tower infrastructure of Polish cellco Polkom- following the recent acquisition of towers and sites
tel. The country’s Office of Competition and Consumer from Play. What is more, this decision will allow us to
Protection (Urzad Ochrony Konkurencji i Konsumentow, hold to our commitment to evolve the traditional tower
UOKiK) says that while the deal will see Spain-based operator model towards an integrated telecommuni-
Cellnex take control of more than half of the mobile cations infrastructure management model, combining
towers across Poland, it will not restrict competition. the operation of passive elements (towers) and active
While carrying out its investigation into the proposed elements such as transmission equipment, radio links
deal, UOKiK sought responses from all four of Poland’s and fiber-to-the-tower.’ (June 11, 2021) commsupdate.com

Portugal’s National Communications Authority with ANACOM describing the process as ‘particularly
(Autoridade Nacional de Comunicacoes, ANACOM) has slow’. With offers rising incrementally by just 1% each
announced that it has increased the number of daily time, the watchdog has warned that the slow pace of
bidding rounds in its 5G auction, from seven to twelve. the auction ‘could result in a disastrous delay in the
Portugal On the 81st day of bidding (7 May) the watchdog development and entry into operation of 5G networks,
increased the number of daily bidding rounds from to the detriment of citizens and businesses. ANACOM
six to seven, but the measure proved insufficient, has expressed a willingness to allow bids to increase

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