Page 158 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The National Communications Authority (Nasjonal Telenor the obligation to give other companies access
kommunikasjonsmyndighet, Nkom) has sent two new to its fixed-wireless broadband infrastructure. The ESA
draft decisions related to the regulation of Telenor now has one month to comment on the Nkom’s draft
Norge to the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA). As per decisions, following which the Norwegian regulator
Norway these proposed decisions, Telenor will be required to has said it will consider any comments made by that
body and take these into account before publishing its
maintain wholesale access to its copper network for a
further five years from the date of any final ruling, while final decisions. (July 6, 2020) commsupdate.com
it will also be compelled to offer wholesale customers
access to its fixed-wireless broadband infrastructure. Norway’s National Communications Authority
According to the Nkom, such measures will strengthen (Nasjonal kommunikasjonsmyndighet, Nkom) has
competition with predictable framework conditions launched a consultation on its plans for allocating
for wholesale customers and give end users a greater frequencies in the 5G-suitable 2.6GHz and 3.6GHz
choice of service providers to choose from. With (3400MHz-3800MHz) bands, the former of which is
Telenor having previously announced its intention to currently used by cellcos to offer 4G connectivity. The
shutter its copper network by the end of 2022, the Nkom regulator has set a deadline of 8 September 2020 for
has argued that this timeframe is too short. It has also submissions to its consultation, ahead of which it noted
suggested that the telco’s wholesale customers have that, having already presented its recommendations
not been given sufficient information or the opportunity to the relevant government bodies, the Ministry of
to safeguard their interests. However, the regulator Local Government and Modernization (Kommunal- og
could allow for a faster shutdown of Telenor’s copper moderniseringsdepartementet, KMD) has evaluated
network; to that end, the Nkom noted that, should it offer the suggestions and offered its feedback on the matter.
its wholesale customers relevant replacement products In terms of the Nkom’s proposals, it is envisaging
for copper-based access, it could then draw up a plan auctioning off spectrum in the 2.6GHz and 3.6GHz in
for migration for copper to fiber/mobile infrastructure. a single auction in 2021. A total of 120MHz is to be
It did though stipulate that any such plan would need to offered in the lower band, broken down as 14 2×5MHz
accept input from wholesale customers, while it would blocks (FDD) and single block of 50MHz (TDD). Further,
also require final approval from the Nkom. Meanwhile, the watchdog is setting a starting price of NOK25
with regards to fixed-wireless broadband, the Nkom million (USD2.6 million) per block and a frequency cap
has said that it considers wholesale access as being of 80MHz. Meanwhile, in the 3.6GHz band the regulator
important for competition in parts of the broadband has proposed offering a total of 400MHz, broken down
market, being that such services are increasingly as 40 blocks of 10MHz, with a frequency cap of 120MHz
being used by customers in areas where copper- to be set in this band, and the starting price again set at
based services have been discontinued. As a result, NOK25 million per block.
the regulator has confirmed its intention to impose on (June 23, 2020) commsupdate.com

The Department of Information and Communications and Necessity, granted to DITO on 8th July 2019]
Technology (DICT) issued the guidelines for sharing by provisions.” “Under the current extension, DITO is
telcos of cell towers, marking the beginning of a new given within six months to deliver the commitments for
era in the telecommunications sector. Years in the the technical audit requirements – that is to provide a
Philippines making, the rules on the sharing of tower infrastructure speed of 27Mbps to cover 37% of the population.”
will res Filipino newcomer DITO has been granted
(July 5, 2020) developingtelecoms.com
an additional six months to complete an obligatory
technical audit. Earlier this week, the Philippines’ hape the prevailing business models of telcos, which
incoming third operator stated that due to the current build and use their own cell sites for their mobile
pandemic it expected to miss the 8th July deadline for networks. The guidelines will also strengthen the
the audit, which is stipulated by the government under government’s overall goal to improve service quality by
the terms of DITO’s operating license. Subsequently, encouraging the construction of tens of thousands of
the Department of Information and Communications new towers across the Philippines, where vast areas
Technology (DICT) instructed the country’s regulator remain underserved or unserved. The Inquirer has
the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) seen a copy of the rules, which were issued last May
to extend DITO’s timeframe for carrying out the 29 and signed by Information and Communications
inspection. A statement from DICT read: “In relation Technology Secretary Gregorio Honasan II. It coincided
to the delay caused by the COVID-19 crisis, the NTC with the relaxing of strict lockdown rules, which
issued a resolution extending the July 2020 technical confined millions of people inside their homes and
audit under the CPCN [Certificate of Public Convenience caused internet demand to surge. The DICT had said

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