Page 155 - SAMENA Trends - June-August 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

bids by 5%, 10%, 15% or 20%, but the country’s cellcos January, after just eight days of bidding. The full 5G
have proven reluctant to change tack midway through auction, which comprises sought-after spectrum in
the spectrum sale. TeleGeography notes that the sale the 700MHz, 2100MHz, 2.6GHz and 3.6GHz bands
of 900MHz and 1800MHz spectrum – which was commenced on 14 January and is now on its 100th day
reserved for new market entrants – concluded on 11 of bidding (3 June). (June 3, 2021) commsupdate.com

The regulator ANCOM has announced plans for a new of the European Electronic Communications. ANCOM
auction for the frequencies remaining after selection has set minimum license fees for the rights to use
procedures carried out in 2012 and 2015. It proposes the frequencies. They are the local currency (RON)
organizing two distinct selection procedures, the first equivalent of €22 million for the pair block in the 800
Romania for public consultation, aiming to grant the rights to MHz band; €4.3 million for the pair block in the 2600
MHz band; €3.5 million for the unpaired block in the
use the remaining spectrum available from previous
auctions (800 MHz, 2600 MHz and 3400-3600 MHz), 2600 MHz band; and €700,000 for an unpaired block in
and the second for the granting of rights in the new the 3400-3800 MHz band. The license fees will have to
bands (700 MHz and 1500 MHz) and in the band be paid within 15 days from the date of announcing the
3400-3800 MHz (with the rights coming into force final results of the auction and go to the state budget.
on January 1, 2026, when the existing licenses in this (July 4, 2021) broadbandtvnews.com
band expire), after the transposition into national law

The State Commission for Radio Frequencies (SCRF) to other radio frequency ranges’ before July 2022
has decided to extend all existing 3500MHz fixed- so that ‘subscribers will continue to receive internet
wireless operating licenses until 1 July 2022, the access services and will not notice the transition
Ministry of Digital Development, Communications to other bands’. The Ministry also indicated that for
Russia & Mass Media reported on its website. The licenses many subscribers, alternative access methods could
be implemented, stating: ‘In most cases it is possible
officially expired in March this year but fixed-wireless
broadband operators were allowed to continue to organize broadband internet access using satellite
providing services while the SCRF reached a final terminals, radio relay stations, and in some cases,
decision on whether to extend the 3.5GHz permits. fiber-optic lines.’ The 3.5GHz spectrum came under
The Ministry’s statement noted that ‘many companies previous proposals to redistribute the 3.4GHz-3.8GHz
continued to provide their clients with fixed-wireless range for 5G mobile services, but such plans have thus
internet access’ in the interim period, adding that these far been blocked by Russian satellite/military/security
companies must ‘carry out work to transfer subscribers agencies. (June 21, 2021) commsupdate.com

MTN Group has confirmed the renewal of its operating ongoing operational and investment requirements,
license in Rwanda with effect from 1 July 2021. MTN were funded by cash generated from operations and
Rwanda has paid 70% of the RWF91 billion (USD89.4 supplementary funding from local banks. New Times
million) renewal fee, equivalent to around RWF64 reports that MTN Rwanda has secured a RWF64 billion
billion, with the remaining 30% due by July 2022. The syndicated loan from a group of ten banks.
Rwanda new concession is valid for ten years. The parent group (August 5, 2021) commsupdate.com
said that the license fee, along with MTN Rwanda’s

Senegal’s Regulation Authority for Telecommunications number of rejections and low rate of ported numbers.
and Post (L’Autorite de Regulation des Stakeholders have until 5 September to submit their
Telecommunications et des Postes, ARTP) has comments. (August 13, 2021) commsupdate.com
launched a public consultation as part of a project to
Senegal improve the mobile number portability (MNP) system. The Regulation Authority for Telecommunications and
Posts (L’Autorite de Regulation des Telecommunications
The document aims to gather feedback regarding
potential improvements to the existing system, et des Postes, ARTP) has launched a new application
introduced in September 2015, in order improve the for Android and iOS devices that enables users to test
customer experience and address the significant the speed of their mobile and Wi-Fi connections and

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