Page 121 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Telecommunications Regulatory Board (ART) fined XAF800 million. Last month the Ministry of Posts
has fined the country’s four mobile network operators and Telecommunications called for an urgent meeting
(MNOs) a total of XAF6 billion (USD9.8 million) for between mobile operators MTN, Orange, Viettel and
poor network quality. Business in Cameroon quotes CamTel and the ART to discuss measures to improve
Cameroon head of the telecoms regulator Philemon Zo’o Zame quality of service, following a surge in complaints from
as saying the penalties were imposed on the cellcos consumers in recent months over poor service quality
for repeated violations of the quality and coverage and expensive tariffs. In February 2023 the regulator
requirements outlined in their operating agreements. announced it would carry out an assessment of the
Orange Cameroon was handed the largest fine of performance of mobile networks and any operator
XAF2.2 billion, followed by Viettel (Nexttel) with a found to fall short of these targets could face financial
penalty of XAF1.6 billion and MTN Cameroon with penalties or the withdrawal of their license.
XAF1.4 billion, while state-owned CamTel (Blue) was (May 30, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

The Canadian Radio-television & Telecommunications users [NTUs], releasing this spectrum though an NCL
Commission (CRTC) yesterday (9 May 2023) set the final licensing framework will support the development of
rules giving regional mobile network operators MVNO- 5G services by existing users, and can enable wireless
Canada based access to the networks of Rogers, Bell, Telus and broadband services (WBS) [licensees] and WISPs
[wireless ISPs] to bolster connectivity in various regions
SaskTel (‘the incumbents’), completing a policy decision
issued over two years ago. The incumbents have been across the country’, including rural and remote areas.
given 90 days to negotiate MVNO access agreements. In New and NTU spectrum users are expected to span
its latest Decision the CRTC approved with changes the a wide range of industry verticals and could include
incumbents’ proposed MVNO access tariffs, effective 9 private broadband networks on enterprise campuses,
May 2023, and directed them to issue final tariffs by 19 such as universities, stadiums and shopping centers.
May. Incumbents ‘must have the service operational and ISED designated 80MHz of spectrum in eight unpaired
ready for use’ by 8 June, and by 7 August ‘parties should 10MHz blocks for shared use in the 3900MHz-3980MHz
have executed agreements’ and ‘seamless hand-off range, with the 3940MHz-3980MHz portion reserved
functionality must be in place’. If this timeframe is not for small operators including small commercial mobile
met, the Commission will consider ‘using all the tools at service providers, NTUs and WISPs; any entity with
its disposal to ensure compliance with its framework’. 100,000 or more retail mobile phone subscriptions is
The CRTC stated that the measures mean that regional ineligible for licensing in that block. A spectrum limit
competitors will be able to offer cellphone services in of 20MHz per licensee within any geographic area will
parts of Canada that they do not currently serve, giving apply to 3900MHz spectrum, while ISED will implement
mobile users greater choice. In April 2021 the CRTC license area size limits varied by license type, with
granted conditional MVNO access to regional operators specific base station deployment requirements per
who have invested in infrastructure and spectrum, but license. ISED is adopting an ‘early access application
stopped short of mandating wider MVNO access for window’ allowing existing WBS licensees to apply for
other competitors or directly regulating wholesale rates 3900MHz-3980MHz NCL licenses, giving them until 7
for MVNOs. The regulator took an additional 18 months July 2023 to upload their site information into ISED’s
to set MVNO access terms and conditions, released Spectrum Management System. ISED will issue early
in October 2022 – mandating the incumbents to enter NCL licenses in the 3900MHz band ‘prior to 31 March
negotiations with regional providers on wholesale rates 2025, the first WBS displacement deadline’, to those
– but it took more than a further six months for final who have submitted payment for their license. For all
rules to be issued. (May 10, 2023) www.commsupdate.com other applicants, an automated NCL licensing system
is expected to be made available in 2024. ISED has
Innovation, Science & Economic Development Canada decided to prioritize the licensing of the 3900MHz
(ISED) has issued a decision on a Non-Competitive band by making it available for NCL licensing ahead
Local (NCL) Licensing Framework for spectrum in the of mmWave band NCL licensing availability; further
3900MHz-3980MHz band and portions of the mmWave announcements on mmWave NCL licensing timing will
26GHz, 28GHz and 38GHz bands. ISED declared that ‘in follow. (May 5, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
addition to facilitating access to new and non-traditional

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