Page 136 - SAMENA Trends - March 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

for auction also represent the earliest opportunity for interference between future C-band licensees and
most U.S. wireless operators to get mid-band spec- CBRS users, something O’Rielly seemed to acknowl-
trum expressly for 5G. It hasn’t always been a straight edge in his statement. Democratic Commissioner Jes-
line in getting to this point, something commissioners sica Rosenworcel, who was on the commission during
alluded to in their statements. “It’s an impressive testa- the earlier vote under the Obama administration, said
ment to the speed of technological development in the Friday’s vote was bittersweet. “It never should have
wireless sector that 5G was barely on the radar when taken us this long to get here,” she said in a statement.
the Commission began re-imagining the way we use “We started down this road five years ago … During the
this band,” Pai said. “But now, because the FCC made intervening years we hemmed and hawed and revisited
necessary mid-course corrections to reflect changes some of the fundamentals of our new framework. We
in the marketplace, the 3.5 GHz auction will help make lost our nerve and in key ways retreated back to the old.
this band a primary avenue for deploying 5G services.” Then we claimed that these changes made this portion
Those mid-course corrections came after Pai became of our airwaves more 5G friendly. But the honest truth
chairman. Under the previous administration’s FCC is that these changes exposed our lack of imagination
Chairman, Tom Wheeler, the commission had voted to and a misunderstanding of what 5G is, what it needs
pursue a different path, of which the biggest wireless and what it can do.” Commissioner Geoffrey Starks,
operators weren’t the biggest fans. When Pai took over who was appointed to the commission last year, said
the Chairman’s role, he appointed fellow Republican this summer’s auction sets the stage for consumers to
Commissioner Mike O’Rielly as the point person to re- begin to realize the benefits of the spectrum and noted
configure how the band would go to market. O’Rielly that consumers already have access to smartphones
said he’s proud of the structure that emerged, with the from Apple, Google and Samsung that have the ca-
auction to include 10 MHz, county-sized licenses with pability of using 3.5 GHz spectrum. AT&T’s Executive
standard license terms (10 years instead of the initial Vice President of Regulatory & State External Affairs
three), providing potential bidders with confidence that, Joan Marsh applauded the FCC for continuing to move
if they invest and follow the rules, they won’t be at risk forward with making this mid-band spectrum available
of losing their licenses and investments. Wireless op- for commercial use. “The Commission is to be com-
erators have expressed interest in both the General mended for working collaboratively across govern-
Authorized Access (GAA) unlicensed portion of the Cit- ment agencies and the wireless industry to develop a
izens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band and PAL unique spectrum sharing solution that accommodates
licenses. Cable operators also have been active partic- government incumbents while permitting new licensed
ipants in the proceeding, with Charter Communications and unlicensed users,” she stated.
recently urging the FCC to address potential harmful (March 2, 2020) fiercewireless.com

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory October to December 2019 that was computed in
Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) has with immediate consultation with operators,” said Potraz Director
effect approved a 57 percent upward review for voice, General Gift Machengete in a statement. Prices for on
data and SMS tariffs to catch up with the “constantly net calls per minute, SMS per message and mobile data
rising operating costs” affecting the telecoms sector. per megabyte moved up from $0,75, $0,19 and $0,15 to
Zimbabwe Potraz said the current prices have become sub $1,17, $0,30 and $0,23 respectively. Meanwhile, Econet
economic due to the continual deterioration of the Wireless Zimbabwe (EWZ) recently made an average of
country’s economy, hence the increase intends to 20 percent upward review for its SMS and data bundle
maintain sustainable operations within the company’s prices aligning them with the prevailing inflation rate.
telecommunications’ business, according to a circular Econet Group Media and Corporate Affairs Executive
to operators seen by The Herald Finance & Business. Fungai Mandiveyi confirmed the data bundle and SMS
“Tariff thresholds for telecommunication services were price increment. “The review is on average, a 20 percent
last adjusted in October last year using the August adjustment to try and catch up with inflation and other
2019 Telecommunication Price Index (TPI) figures. rising costs – including electricity and diesel and it is
“The current tariff thresholds have been rendered well within the authorized threshold.” The new data
unsustainable as the operating environment continues tariffs, which came into effect on Wednesday, come as
to deteriorate due to constantly rising operating costs. a result of the significant weakening of local currency
“Accordingly, the authority has found it necessary to which has lost 93 percent of its value from 1: 2,5 when
review tariff thresholds for telecommunication services the interbank rate was introduced in February to the
by up to 56,64 percent based on the TPI, for the period current 1:40. (March 15, 2020) herald.co.zw

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News updates, Snapshot of Regulatory News SAMENA Countries, Regulatory News beyond SAMENA region and Wholesale News updates have been
obtained from sources, which we deem reliable. SAMENA Telecommunications Council is not liable for any misinformed decisions that the reader may
reach by being solely reliant on information contained herein. Expert advice should be sought.
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