Page 119 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

REGULATORY ACTIVITIES BEYOND

THE SAMENA REGION

Argentina’s multi-band 5G spectrum auction is expected the following frequency bands: 1427MHz-1518MHz
to be held in June this year, after a series of delays. (1500MHz band); 1770MHz-1780MHz/2170MHz-
The new timeline was revealed by Gustavo Lopez, vice 2180MHz (AWS-3 band); 2300MHz-2400MHz (2.3GHz
president of the National Communications Agency band); 3.3GHz-3.6GHz (3.5GHz); 24.25GHz-25.75GHz
Argentina (Ente Nacional de Comunicaciones, ENACOM), who (26GHz band); and 37GHz-43.5GHz (38GHz band). As
was speaking at the Internet Day event in Buenos Aires per government projections, the auction could raise as
this week. Mr. Lopez said: ‘The political will is to do it as much as USD1.4 billion.
soon as possible.’ The 5G auction is expected to include (May 18, 2023) BNAmericas

The Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) has agreed to pay AMD2.250 billion (USD5.53 million) for
announced that, upon completion of a tender process their licenses – the term period of each has not been
for licensing 700MHz and 800MHz spectrum for 5G disclosed – plus an annual usage fee of AMD1.176
services, it has granted permits to two Armenian mobile billion. Having completed the licensing process, PSRC
Armenia network operators (MNOs). In a press release (dated states that by 2025 a 5G mobile broadband network
8 May), the telecoms regulator confirmed that Team must be launched in major cities across the Republic,
Telecom Armenia was declared the winner of 2×20MHz including Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor, ‘mainly with
of spectrum in the 700MHz band, and MTS Armenia the introduction of Internet of Things (IoT) technology’.
(Viva-MTS) was the winner of the 2×10MHz segment (May 9, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
offered in the 800MHz range. Each company reportedly

An increasing number of residential fixed broadband market share is broken out by the ACCC –increased
subscriptions are for a service offering downlink its slice of the pie to its highest ever level, 7.5%.
speeds of 25Mbps, the Australian Competition and Other providers, led by the likes of Aussie Broadband,
Consumer Commission (ACCC) has reported. In Superloop and Southern Phone, also continued to grow
Australia publishing its most recent quarterly ‘NBN Wholesale their market shares it said, accounting for a combined
Market Indicators Report’, the watchdog noted that 15.4% of the market as of end-March 2023.
the number of residential subscriptions for a 25Mbps (Jun 13, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
service had increased by 125,000 in the first three
months of this year to reach around 1.4 million, or 16% Following what it termed ‘a thorough assessment’
of the NBN wholesale market, as of 31 March 2023. By which had been ‘informed by constructive and extensive
comparison, while the ACCC noted that the 50Mbps engagement with NBN Co, Retail Service Providers,
speed tier remained the most popular – accounting for consumer representatives and other stakeholders’, the
52% of the market – subscriptions to this level of service Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
had declined by 99,000 in the first quarter of 2023, to (ACCC) has rejected NBN Co’s proposed variation to
just over 4.5 million. According to the regulator, such its Special Access Undertaking (SAU). Announcing the
declines were ‘likely due to the removal of wholesale publication of its draft decision related to the matter,
discounts last year’. At the top end of the speed scale, ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said: ‘The ACCC
meanwhile, it highlighted the increase in uptake for can only decide to accept or reject NBN Co’s variation
plans offering downlink speeds of 250Mbps or higher, proposal, and our draft decision today is to reject this
with subscriptions increasing by 25,000 in Q1 2023 proposal. However, in making our decision, we have
to reach 198,000, or around 2% of the NBN wholesale identified a number of aspects of it that reflect issues
market. With regards to market shares, the ACCC’s raised in the ongoing industry consultation process and
report showed that subscriptions for the largest three which represent a significant improvement on the current
access providers – Telstra, TPG and Optus – continued SAU and earlier variation proposals.’ The executive
to decline, dropping by 58,000 services collectively, or added: ‘We have also outlined some specific issues
0.9%, reducing their market shares to 42.0%, 22.0% and NBN Co could address to accelerate the pathway to an
13.1%, respectively, at the end of 1Q23. By contrast, acceptable variation.’ The ACCC said it was not satisfied
Vocus – the only other operator for which an individual that the proposed variation would result in access terms

119 MAY-JUNE 2023