Page 110 - SAMENA Trends - March 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Mozambique Launches Universal Access Projects in Ten Areas

The Mozambique government’s Universal and Niassa. The scheme will ensure INCM) says the deployment will benefit
Access Service Fund (Fundo do Servico broadband access at a speed of 20Mbps at businesses, farmers, start-ups and other
de Acesso Universal, FSAU) has launched 27 separate sites across the ten localities. sectors of the community. The FSAU is
projects to improve connectivity in ten The Communications Regulatory financed by a 1% levy on operators’ annual
locations in the provinces of Maputo, Gaza, Authority (Autoridade Reguladora das gross revenues.
Inhambane, Sofala, Zambezia, Nampula Comunicacoes, ARECOM, previously

Singapore Unveils Digital Initiatives to Prep for 5G

The Singapore government stepped- without the need for a physical presence. networks for enterprise services. Despite
up efforts to become a leading digital In addition, the government started the its ambition to be a 5G leader, Singapore
economy, announcing a raft of initiatives Cyber Talent Initiative, which aims to has waited to deploy the SA version from
aimed at preparing the city state to take nurture talent to support its aim of being the start, pushing its schedule behind
full advantage of 5G networks when a Cybersecurity hub. The Infocomm countries including South Korea and China.
they roll out later this year or in early Media Development Authority (IMDA) A key reason for the wait is the government
2021. Measures from the Ministry of expects to award 5G spectrum licenses believes the business models and use
Communications and Information include by mid-2020 after receiving proposals cases are far from clear. In May 2019, it
the citywide launch of a parcel locker last month from Singtel, TPG Telecom earmarked SGD40 million ($28.9 million) to
network to improve the efficiency of its and a joint-submission from StarHub and develop what it calls an open and inclusive
e-commerce logistics sector; support for M1. The agency said it is evaluating the 5G innovation ecosystem. IMDA plans to
companies to hire and train mid-career submissions. Two citywide standalone issue additional 5G spectrum in 2024 or
professionals for technology jobs; and a (SA) 5G licenses are being offered, but 2025.
program to help small- and medium-sized IMDA in October 2019 expanded its plans
enterprises access overseas markets with a call for proposals covering localized

US Cellular Gets Spectrum Infusion from FCC

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) gave US Cellular Wisconsin. The operator holds a majority stake in Advantage
the green light to temporarily tap into spectrum held by a third Spectrum through its subsidiary USCC Wireless Investment,
party, as the operator looks to meet increased demand for mobile but does not have sole control of the company. A US Cellular
broadband in states hardest hit by COVID-19 (coronavirus). representative told Mobile World Live (MWL) the move is part of
US Cellular was granted access to AWS-3 airwaves licensed to a “proactive” effort to “avoid network congestion in some of our
Advantage Spectrum for 60 days to provide additional capacity markets”. Washington and California are among the states with
to customers in parts of California, Oregon, Washington and the highest number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 708 and
369 respectively, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
data showed. Earlier this week, the FCC cleared T-Mobile US
to tap into additional 600MHz spectrum licensed to several
broadcast companies to boost the operator’s capacity at a time
of heightened demand. Larger rivals AT&T and Verizon separately
told MWL they don’t yet have plans to seek a similar arrangement,
with a representative for the latter noting it was yet to experience
capacity issues which would require it to seek access to additional
spectrum. An AT&T representative said its network “continues to
perform well,” noting the operator had actually seen “fewer spikes
in wireless usage around particular cell towers or particular times
of day” in some locations, as more people work from home and
avoid gathering in large crowds as a precaution against the virus.

110 MARCH 2020