Page 117 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

CITC Announces the End of the Transition Period for Saudi Domain Names

The Communications and Information period. CITC assured that the domains registrar model as part of its plan to
Technology Commission (CITC) and their services were not affected by develop Saudi domain name registration
announced the end of the transition the transferring process. Adding that services in line with international practices,
period for Saudi domain names. Private the suspension and cancellation of the and to enable the private sector to invest in
sector and individuals were given 10 registration of non-transferred domain this field and other related services.
months starting February 2021 to transfer names had begun, and the non-transferred
domain names, in addition to three more domain names will be available for
months as an exception to allow more registration in accordance with the
time for private sector beneficiaries and approved regulations and procedures.
individuals. CITC clarified that there was It is noteworthy that CITC, as the Saudi
a significant collaboration from private domain names supervising and regulatory
sector and individuals within the transition authority, has adopted the domain name

Japan’s Govt Targets 95% Population Coverage for 5G in Just Two Years

According to local press reports, the government of Japan
intends to issue additional 5G-suitable mobile frequencies to
domestic operators to boost coverage to 95% of the population
by end-March 2024 (fiscal 2024). TV network NHK World cites the
Communications Minister, Kaneko Yasushi, as saying: ‘Speedy
expansion of 5G availability is a must. We will swiftly establish
the necessary environment so that 5G technology can benefit as
many people as possible’. The state plans to see cellcos increase
coverage still further to 97% by the end of fiscal 2025, and 99%
by fiscal 2030. Furthermore, the report claims that domestic
carriers will be offered subsidies to help the deployment of base
transceiver stations in remote, less economically feasible areas.

Airtel Pays INR88bn Towards Spectrum, Will Buy 4.7% Indus Stake from Vi

Indian telecoms group Bharti Airtel has paid INR88.15 billion the sale of equity or via a mixture of ADR American Depositary
(USD1.16 billion) to the Department of Telecommunications Receipts (ADRs), Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) and foreign
(DoT) towards the prepayment of deferred liabilities relating currency convertible bonds (FCCBs) – for the remaining INR100
to the acquisition of spectrum in 2015. The prepayment is for billion. Under the fundraising program, Vodafone will infuse up
instalments that were due in the 2027 and 2028 financial years. to INR33.75 billion in Vi whilst Aditya Birla will invest around
Airtel notes that the liabilities carried an interest rate of 10% INR11.25 billion.
and were cleared through ‘a combination of strong free cash
generated by business, equity proceeds and significantly lower
cost debt of similar tenor’. In a separate development, meanwhile,
Airtel is set to acquire a 4.7% interest in passive infrastructure firm
Indus Towers from the UK’s Vodafone Group for INR23.88 billion.
The transaction will be executed at a price of INR187.88 per share.
The deal had been agreed in February this year on the condition
that the proceeds would be invested in Vodafone Idea (Vi) and
go towards clearing the latter’s dues towards Indus. For its part,
Vi’s shareholders have approved a proposal to raise INR145
billion through the issue of equity shares to promoter groups
Vodafone and Aditya Birla Group (for a total of INR45 billion) and

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