Page 155 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

by regulator Agcom and the Ministry of Economic the extension itself but solely the financial aspect of the
Development (MiSE), with the expiry date pushed back renewal. GO internet, which uses its 3.5GHz spectrum
six years to end-2029. Cellcos TIM, Vodafone and Iliad, to provide wireless broadband services in the Marche,
which paid large sums for 5G licenses in an October Emilia-Romagna and Umbria regions of Italy, says its
2018 auction, protested against the planned extension, case is due to be heard by the CdS in March 2021. A
arguing that companies such as GO were getting report from Mondo Mobile Web sites GO as saying
spectrum for free when they had spent billions of euros that it ‘considers the criterion established for the
on their own licenses. In November 2019 the regional contributions fair and correct’ and that it is ‘confident
administrative court (Tribunale Amministrativo of the positive outcome of the degree of judgment’.
Regionale, TAR) in Lazio found in favor of the cellcos, (June 3, 2020) commsupdate.com
although it added that its finding did not rule against

Latvian multi-sector watchdog the Public Utilities our daily work. At the same time, it will be a common
Commission (Sabiedrisko Pakalpojumu Regulesanas platform to jointly discuss issues that are relevant to
Komisija, SPRK) has approved regulations for the the SPRK in the regulated sectors. This is especially
establishment of an advisory council that will provide important at times when significant changes in the
Latvia recommendations on the SPRK’s operational strategy regulation of sectors are planned, which affect the
and suggest improvements for sectoral regulation.
activities of merchants and the interests of service
The council will feature representatives from the users.’ Separately, meanwhile, the SPRK has extended
ministries of the regulated sectors as well from mobile provider Bite Latvia’s rights to use a 5MHz
non-governmental organizations to advocate the block of spectrum at 1900MHz-1905MHz until 28 June
interests of consumers and industry stakeholders. 2030. The extension is conditional on Bite’s continued
According to the regulator, the formation of the body usage of the frequencies, however. Under the terms of
aims to foster closer cooperation and improve the the extension, on 1 February every year the cellco must
exchange of information and views between the SPRK, have at least one valid usage permit from the Electronic
other supervisory authorities and social partners. Communications Office (Elektroniskie Sakari, ESD) in
Commenting on the move, SPRK Chairman Rolands each Latvian city with more than 20,000 permanent
Irklis was quoted as saying: ‘In our opinion, the idea residents, i.e. the provider must have at least one
of establishing an advisory council is to be welcomed. site either active or under construction in each of the
We also look forward to the active involvement of our country’s major towns and cities.
partners in receiving suggestions for improvements in (June 10, 2020) commsupdate.com

Sector watchdog the Luxembourg Institute of reserve price of EUR300,000 per 10MHz block. Usage
Regulation (Institut Luxembourgeois de Regulation, rights will be granted for an initial period of 15 years
ILR) has announced that the auction to allocate and the licenses will be renewable at least once for
5G-suitable frequencies in the 700MHz and 3600MHz a period of five years. The five qualified bidders are
Luxembourg bands began on 13 July. The ILR is auctioning 2×30MHz Eltrona, Luxembourg Online, Orange Luxembourg, Post
in the 700MHz band (703MHz-733MHz/758MHz-
Luxembourg and Proximus Luxembourg. The ILR notes
788MHz) with a reserve price set at EUR5.62 million the auction could take ‘several days’.
(USD6.4 million) for each 2×10MHz block, and 330MHz (June 14, 2020) commsupdate.com
in the 3600MHz band (3420MHz-3750MHz) with a

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia in Sarawak, especially in 4G connectivity. “There will be
Commission (MCMC) will work closely with the further discussions after this on how to speed things
Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) to improve 4G up as well as collaborations between the MCMC and
broadband connectivity in the state. Communications SMA,” he told reporters after visiting and officiating
Malaysia and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said the Sarawak MCMC office here. Also present were
secretary-general of the Ministry of Communications
the MCMC was targeting achieving at least 90 per cent
broadband connectivity compared to 71 per cent now. and Multimedia, Datuk Suriani Ahmad, SMA board
“This was discussed today in a brief meeting with the member Tan Sri Morshidi Ghani, and MCMC chairman
SMA, looking at how to improve MCMC’s achievements Dr Fadlullah Abdul Malek. (July 12, 2010) www.bernama.com

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