Page 141 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The National Commission for Markets and Competition competitors. In a separate announcement, the
(Comision Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia, watchdog has confirmed that it considers it necessary
CNMC) has published an updated ‘MARCo’ offer to to subsidize passive infrastructure so that high speed
improve access to poles and thus speed the deployment broadband services can be extended to unprofitable
of high speed electronic communications networks, areas. Municipalities with between 10,000 and 20,000
Spain especially in areas with lower population density. The inhabitants are not covered by the coverage obligations

MARCo offer (OFE/DTSA/004/20) regulates access attached to spectrum concessions. The program has a
to Telefonica’s civil works infrastructure – ducts, total of EUR150 million (USD166.7 million), which will
manholes and poles – which are essential for the be used to support the deployments.
deployment of new fiber-optic networks by Telefonica’s (April 1, 2022) commsupdate.com

The Swedish Post and Telecom Agency (Post & regulations include changes to obligations regarding
Telestyrelsen, PTS) has submitted a raft of new subscriber information, network security, number
legislation which it says will form part of a revamp portability, changing service provider and emergency
of the country’s electronic communications law, communications.
Sweden which is due to enter force on 1 August. The new (March 3, 2022) commsupdate.com

The UK’s telecoms regulator Ofcom has launched The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
a consultation related to its proposed strategy for has approved Cellnex Telecom’s acquisition of 6,000
managing radio spectrum used by the space sector, passive telecom infrastructure sites in the UK from
as it noted that this area – and its use of spectrum – CK Hutchison, the Hong Kong-based owner of Three
United continues to grow, with the likes of OneWeb and SpaceX UK. However, the deal is subject to the divestment
deploying large numbers of new non-geostationary
of around 1,000 of Cellnex’s existing UK cell sites,
Kingdom orbit (NGSO) satellites. Ofcom last set out a strategy which are said to overlap geographically with the
for spectrum work in the space sector back in January CK Hutchison sites to be acquired. The regulatory
2017, in which the regulator focused on ways to enable approval of this deal marks the final component of a
growth in satellite broadband and Earth observation, series of agreements announced in November 2020
and set out a workplan which it claims to have ‘now to acquire 24,600 CK Hutchison cell sites in Austria,
largely delivered’. However, with the sector having Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Italy and the UK. The CMA’s
undergone ‘significant change and rapid expansion’, approval remains contingent on the implementation
Ofcom highlighted an increased pressure on the use of of the agreed remedy. The six transactions represent
spectrum and a need for coordination to ensure that an investment of EUR10 billion (USD10.9 billion), and
the increased number of satellites in operation avoid the agreements also cover the deployment of up to
interference between NGSO systems. As such, Ofcom 5,250 new sites (600 of which in the UK) over the next
is seeking stakeholder input on its proposed strategy, eight years, with an additional investment of EUR1.15
including evidence on future trends, additional issues billion. Barcelona-based Cellnex manages a portfolio
that it would be beneficial for it to consider and whether of more than 130,000 sites – including forecasted
specific issues should be of high priority and why. With rollouts up to 2030 – in Spain, Italy, the Netherlands,
the consultation scheduled to close on 24 May 2022, France, Switzerland, the UK, Ireland, Portugal, Austria,
the regulator aims to publish a finalized strategy later Denmark, Sweden and Poland.
this year’. (March 16, 2022) commsupdate.com (March 7, 2022) commsupdate.com

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) though noted it still had some pending applications
confirmed final details of its next spectrum auction, from communities given priority access to the bands,
with the process scheduled to begin on 29 July and which could slightly reduce the number available.
focus on allocating blocks in rural parts of the country. Alongside publishing the date and final details of the
Its latest sale was announced at MWC Barcelona auction, the FCC also launched a mapping tool able to
United 2022 by FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel and will cover identify the location and scale of unassigned spectrum
States licenses for the 2.5GHz band in areas with currently in specific areas. Rosenworcel stated the “2.5GHz band
unassigned allocations. The regulator expects to auction can help deliver on the promise of 5G services
offer 8,000 flexible use county-based overlay licenses, and ensure that it reaches as many people as possible,”

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