Page 122 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Portuguese 5G Consultation Resumes

Portugal’s National Communications previously reported by TeleGeography’s COVID-19 pandemic. In other regulatory
Authority (Autoridade Nacional de CommsUpdate, on 30 December 2019 news, the mobile termination rate (MTR)
Comunicacoes, ANACOM) has confirmed ANACOM issued its final approval regarding in Portugal will drop to EUR0.0036 per
that its unfinished 5G consultation the frequencies it intends to distribute minute from 1 July 2020, down from the
process has resumed, as the country’s for 5G use. As a result, the regulator will EUR0.0040 per minute rate which has
‘state of emergency’ is no longer in auction spectrum in the following bands: been in effect since July 2019. Going
force. The new consultation deadline 700MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, 2100MHz, forward, the fixed termination rate (FTR)
has been set at 3 July, after which date 2600MHz and 3.6GHz. The spectrum sale will decrease to EUR0.00046 per minute
the watchdog hopes to proceed with its was originally expected to take place this from 1 October 2020.
delayed sale of 5G-suitable spectrum. As summer but has been delayed due to the

Monitoring Compliance with the EU Net
Neutrality Regulation – 2019/20

Ofcom published its fourth annual • the UK’s broadband and mobile
report to the European Commission networks coped during the peak of
on monitoring open internet access, the Covid-19 pandemic, ensuring
also known as ‘net neutrality’. The that people stayed connected; and
report sets out Ofcom’s approach to • there were no new cases of concern
monitoring and enforcing the EU net regarding ISP’s traffic management
neutrality rules from May 2019 to April practices, and our Codes of
2020. Under these rules, broadband Practice relating to transparency
providers must treat all internet traffic of broadband speeds are working
on their networks equally, and must well.
not give preferential treatment to Although the UK has left the European
certain sites or services. Union, Ofcom is still obliged under UK
Our monitoring work has identified law to produce an annual report on
that: UK net neutrality rules and so we will
• the quality of fixed internet access continue to monitor compliance and
services has improved compared publish findings in this area.
with previous years;

Beeline Spectrum Deal under Scrutiny in Telecoms Probe as PM Quits

Kyrgyzstan’s prime minister mobile frequencies at below-market Technology & Communications (SCITC).
Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev has resigned prices, which the PM’s office denied. In Critics such as Akayev contend that such
following allegations of state corruption in April this year the State Committee for transactions have cost the Kyrgyz state
the telecoms sector regarding the sale and National Security began an investigation ‘dozens of millions of dollars’ in potential
transfer of wireless frequencies, although into the sale of radio spectrum licenses, revenue. In May, former SCA head Natalya
he denied any wrongdoing, stating in his allegedly prompted by a series of deals Chernogubova was placed in custody
resignation note: ‘I have nothing to do involving Kyrgyz operator Sky Mobile under the investigation into alleged
with this case, and the accusations made (Beeline). In March Beeline reportedly corruption, and local news site 24.kg
against me have no basis. I am confident bought out cable TV operator Ala-TV, the reported a series of further arrests in June,
that the investigation will put everything owner of a ‘200MHz band’ of spectrum, including the founder of Ala-TV Arthur
in its place and identify the people for USD1.8 million before repurposing the Khaldarov and the deputy chairman of the
truly violating the law.’ As reported by frequencies ‘for 4G communications’ for a SCITC Maksat Dzhylyshbaev. SCITC head
Eurasianet, MP Janar Akayev has led the token cost via permission from the State Dastan Dogoyev was not detained but was
accusations in parliament, alleging that Communications Agency (SCA), overseen instead questioned as a witness.
Abylgaziev’s government has been selling by the State Committee for Information
122 JUNE-JULY 2020