Page 160 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Romania’s Competition Council has begun a public The telecoms regulator the National Authority for
consultation on the commitments made by RCS&RDS Management and Regulation in Communications
in return for approval to take over the customers of (ANCOM) has opened a public consultation on the
rival network operators AKTA and ATTP, reports local wholesale fixed markets, after its review failed to
Romania news agency Agerpres. To allay the competition reveal any competition issues that would justify the
watchdog’s concerns, RCS&RDS, which has a share of
imposition of specific regulation for the wholesale or
over 50% in the fixed broadband and cable TV markets, retail markets. Interested parties have until 13 July
has pledged to migrate AKTA and ATTP’s customers to submit their comments. ANCOM’s review, which
to fiber-optic infrastructure and reduce their tariffs by covered the period 2015 to 2019, found the market
between 10% and 15%, with no increase to subscription for fixed broadband remains competitive, due to the
charges for three years, to bring them into line with insignificant use of the local loop at the wholesale
its own standard prices. In addition, the transition level in Romania, while the retail market is dynamic
to the RCS&RDS network must be completed within and steadily growing. The regulator noted fixed
three years of receiving clearance. Interested parties internet tariffs are declining, especially for higher
are invited to submit their comments before 29 June. transmission speeds, while maximum speeds are
RCS&RDS, which is owned by Digi Communications, constantly improving, and end-users are satisfied with
announced a deal in December 2019 to operate the accessibility and quality of the offered services.
networks owned by Digital Cable Systems (operating Moreover, Romania was considered to have one of
under the AKTA brand) and ATTP Telecommunications. the most competitive infrastructure sectors in the EU,
Under the agreement, RCS&RDS will pay up to EUR77 with over 480 providers of fixed broadband internet
million (USD86.6 million) to control the networks and access services in 2019 and a very heterogeneous
provide internet access, cable TV, fixed and mobile market structure. ANCOM believes the relatively low
telephony services to around 540,000 residential penetration rate of fixed broadband is caused by
clients for an initial three-year period, with an option to factors outside the telecom market, such as the small
extend for a further three years. The deal could also see number of personal computers and terminals that allow
RCS&RDS acquire ATTP’s infrastructure and clients if internet access in households, poor digital literacy, as
certain conditions are met. well as the low level of average per capita income,
(June 18, 2020) commsupdate.com especially in rural areas. (June 16, 2020) commsupdate.com

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) including on network rollout and performance, coverage,
has issued the ‘final awards’ to Singtel and the joint resilience, Cybersecurity and vendor diversity. Singtel
venture consortium (JVCo) formed by StarHub and and JVCo can now proceed to deploy nationwide 5G
M1, at the close of what it describes as ‘a rigorous and standalone networks that deliver fully-fledged 5G
Singapore holistic 5G call for proposal (CFP) process’. Singtel and capabilities. Singtel will reportedly use Ericsson 5G
equipment, while the StarHub-M1 consortium has
JVCo were issued the ‘provisional awards’ in April this
year. Each party will be assigned 100MHz of 3.5GHz opted for Nokia gear. TPG Telecom has also applied for
spectrum, alongside 800MHz of millimeter wave – and is being allocated – the remaining 26GHz/28GHz
(mmWave) spectrum. The final awards were issued spectrum in the mmWave band to roll out 5G networks
to Singtel and JVCo after they completed the required on a localized basis. TPG informed shareholders: ‘The
regulatory processes, including the selection of their terms of allocation do not require TPG Singapore to
preferred frequency spectrum lots, vendor partners incur any material upfront payment for the mmWave
and other technical and legal matters. Both Singtel spectrum.’
and JVCo have also satisfied other CFP requirements, (June 24, 2020) commsupdate.com

The Office for Regulation of Electronic Communications selection process continues’ and that information
& Postal Services (Regulacny urad, RU) has postponed regarding a new auction date will be given ‘in time’.
the country’s auction of 5G-capable frequencies which Spectrum is being offered in the 700MHz, 900MHz and
was scheduled to begin today (22 June). No reason 1800MHz bands.
Slovakia was given for the delay. The watchdog said that ‘the (June 22, 2020) commsupdate.com

160 JUNE-JULY 2020