Page 129 - SAMENA Trends - March 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Congolese telecoms watchdog the Regulatory backbone network in the DRC, and announced in
Authority of Post and Telecommunications (Autorite de November 2019 that it had completed construction of
Regulation des Postes et Telecom, ARPTC) has issued the first overland fiber link connecting East and West
a license to Liquid Telecom for the construction of a Africa, spanning from Muanda on the west coast of
Congo second submarine cable landing station. The move the DRC to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, via Zambia.
is expected to end the Congolese Society of Post In a related development, meanwhile, Agence Ecofin
and Telecommunication’s (Societe Congolaise des reports that the DRC’s telecoms ministry met this week
Postes et Telecommunications, SCPT’s) monopoly with the Regional African Satellite Communication
on the sector and provide redundancy after damage Organization (Rascom) regarding potential measures
to the West Africa Cable System (WACS) – the only to improve the nation’s access to international
submarine cable that currently lands in the Democratic connectivity. Rascom DG Mamadou Sarr noted that the
Republic of Congo (DRC) – earlier this year caused DRC currently only uses Rascom for satellite TV, adding
a nationwide internet slowdown. Liquid is expected that the organization could offer more and ‘support it in
to connect the DRC to Google’s Equiano cable. its digital transition’.
Liquid Telecom currently operates an terrestrial fiber (March 11, 2020) commsupdate.com

French telecoms regulator Arcep put plans for a and gatherings for 15 days to help stem the spread of
5G spectrum auction on hold, noting the COVID-19 the virus. Spectrum in the 3.4GHz to 3.8GHz bands
(coronavirus) outbreak made it impossible to press was due to be auctioned in blocks of 10MHz, with
ahead with the sale, scheduled to take place in April. An the regulator last month stating all four major French
France Arcep representative told Mobile World Live “logistical operators had also qualified for a fixed-price sale of
reasons” around virus containment measures in
50MHz blocks, which was due to be allocated at the
France had caused the process to be put on ice for the same time as spectrum won in the bidding process.
time being. The regulator must now “study different Seeking to encourage commercial 5G launches this
postponement scenarios and be ready to organize the year, Arcep originally aimed to issue the spectrum by
auctions when we know more.” The decision comes June at the latest. The nation expected the sum raised
after French president Emmanuel Macron on 16 March by the auction and fixed-price allocation to raise at
ordered residents to abstain from non-essential travel least €2.2 billion. (March 17, 2020) mobileworldlive.com

The National Media & Infocommunications Authority 2×5MHz in the 2100MHz band and 1×50MHz in the
(Nemzeti Media- es Hirkozlesi Hatosag, NMHH) 3600MHz band. There were no bidders for a 2600MHz
completed the country’s 5G spectrum auction, with (1×15MHz) block also on offer. The usage rights of
Magyar Telekom, Telenor Hungary and Vodafone the acquired frequencies will expire uniformly in 2035.
Hungary Hungary spending a total of HUF128.49 billion (USD397 Licenses in the 3600MHz and 2100MHz bands have
immediate validity – with Hungary aiming to support
million) on 700MHz, 2100MHz and 3600MHz licenses in
a highly competitive bidding contest. A preliminary bid 3.5GHz-3.6GHz 5G launches and capacity increases
stage on 11 March showed that demand outstripped for existing mobile networks. 700MHz concessions
availability for the frequencies on offer, particularly will not become valid until 6 September 2020, due to
regarding the 700MHz band, prompting the NMHH the ongoing process of transferring the 700MHz range
to proceed to a secondary auction. Magyar Telekom – the ‘second digital dividend’ – from digital terrestrial
won 2×10MHz in the 700MHz band, 2×10MHz in the television (DTT) to mobile broadband usage to support
2100MHz band and 1×120MHz in the 3600MHz band. 5G development, TeleGeography notes. Licenses will
Telenor Hungary acquired 2×5MHz in the 700MHz be extendable for a further five years without any
band and 1×140MHz in the 3600MHz band. Vodafone additional one-off payment.
Hungary received 2×10MHz in the 700MHz band, (March 27, 2020) commsupdate.com

Telecoms watchdog the Post and Telecom in possession of 4G permits. The planned allocations
Administration (PTA, or Post-og Fjarskiptastofnun in the 3.6GHz band are as follows:
[PFS]) has concluded its public consultation on the • Siminn: block B3600 (3500MHz-3600MHz)
award of 5G spectrum in the country, revealing its • Nova: block C3600 (3600MHz-3700MHz)
Iceland plans to award 5G frequencies to three operators – • Vodafone Iceland (Syn): block D3600 (3700MHz-
3800MHz).
Siminn, Nova and Vodafone Iceland (Syn) – currently
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