Page 161 - SAMENA Trends - June-August 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

2006 and Article 3 of the License. In deciding whether to and on whether the Licensee has been in persistent
renew a license, the Commission must decide whether breach of any of those obligations. All operators
the Licensee in question has complied with its various seeking renewal must apply to the Commission no less
obligations under the Act, the Telecommunications than twelve months before their License expiration.’
Code, the License, and any Commission instructions, (June 4, 2021) commsupdate.com

A public consultation has been launched by the Zambia bandwidth requirements; development of a spectrum
Information and Communication Technology Authori- planning work program aimed at preparing identified
ty (ZICTA) to ‘share [its] preliminary views and plans bands for licensing; development of fair and trans-
regarding the identified spectrum to facilitate for the parent licensing process appropriate for each band,
early rollout and commercialization of 5G as well as to considering market demand; and the development of
Zambia encourage immediate capacity expansion of existing a 5G spectrum roadmap. Four bands have been identi-
broadband systems’ With the ZICTA inviting indus- fied by the ZICTA as meeting ‘all requirements for low,
try view and comments on its planning and licensing mid and high band categories of spectrum required to
proposals for key 5G spectrum bands, it now seeks to meet 5G capacity and coverage requirement’, name-
gather information on the level of demand for the dif- ly the 700MHz, 2.6GHz, 3.5GHz and 26GHz bands. Of
ferent bands being considered and understand indus- those, it noted that 3.5GHz frequencies had ‘emerged
try spectrum acquisition plans and priorities. All feed- as a key focus for 5G’ across many other countries and,
back received will be reportedly be used in conjunction as such, one specific question it posed as part of the
with the ZICTA’s strategic objectives to inform spec- consultation was whether respondents agreed that this
trum planning and licensing decisions related to the band is ‘vital to 5G deployment in Zambia’. A deadline
following activities: identification of 5G priority bands; of 20 August 2021 has been set for submissions to the
adoption of band allotment plans and per operator consultation. (July 28, 2021) commsupdate.com

Disclaimer: Information contained in Member News updates, Regional News updates, Policy & Regulatory updates, Satellite News updates, Tech-
nology News updates, Snapshot of Regulatory News SAMENA Countries, Regulatory News beyond SAMENA region and Wholesale News updates
have been obtained from sources, which we deem reliable. SAMENA Telecommunications Council is not liable for any misinformed decisions that the
reader may reach by being solely reliant on information contained herein. Expert advice should be sought.

161 JUN-AUG 2021