Page 123 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

of annual gross revenue for a ‘Virtual Internet Service for Ethiopia (GPE), a private consortium comprising
(VISP) License’; and USD1,500 per year plus 0.5% of Safaricom, Vodafone Group, Vodacom Group, CDC
annual gross revenue for a ‘Telecommunications Value Group and Sumitomo Corporation, as the winning bidder
Added Service License’. (May 30, 2023) www.telecompaper.com for one of two nationwide concessions that it had put
up for grabs. The process to issue a second license
Ethiopia will launch a tender for a new international was initiated on 28 September 2021, but suspended
telecoms license in June, said Balcha Reba, Director on 22 December 2021. Newcomer Safaricom Ethiopia
General of the Ethiopian Communication Authority went on to stage a full commercial launch in October
(ECA). ‘We have planned to launch the tender in June. 2022, breaking Ethio Telecom’s monopoly on the sector.
More details will be released when we approach the Running in parallel, in November 2022 the MoF issued
launch date,’ Reba informed the news agency via an EoI for the partial privatization of Ethio Telecom.
a text message. In May 2021 Ethiopia’s Ministry of (May 23, 2023) reuters.com
Finance (MoF) and the ECA named Global Partnership

The Ministry of Transport and Communications operators to maintain their 2G infrastructure; currently
(Liikenne- ja viestintaministerio, MoTC) has called the concessions held by DNA, Elisa and Telia Finland
for comments from interested parties on matters to for 900MHz and 1800MHz spectrum require that 2G
be considered in its review of the license terms for networks cover 99% of the population in mainland
Finland 2G networks. Specifically, the Ministry has requested Finland. A deadline of 31 July 2023 has been set for
views on whether the Ts&Cs should continue to oblige
submissions. (June 3, 2023) www. lvm.fi

The telecoms regulator Arcep has revealed the results certain commitments. Arcep is now scheduled to hold
of its main auction for spectrum in the 3.4GHz-3.8GHz a second ‘positioning’ auction to determine the final al-
bands in the French overseas territory (departement locations in the two COMs. (Jun 9, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
d’outre-mer, DOM) of French Guiana and the French over-
France seas collectivities (collectivites d’outre-mer, or COMs) The telecoms regulator Arcep has informed the pub-
of Saint Barthelemy and Saint-Martin. Regarding French
lic that it is currently examining three amendments to
Guiana, a total of four blocks with predetermined po- the January 2014 network sharing agreement between
sitions were available for allocation: Block 1 (50MHz), Bouygues Telecom and SFR, inviting all interested par-
Blocks 2 and 3 (60MHz) and Block 4 (70MHz). Free ties to submit their comments by 26 May 2023. The
Mobile won Block 1 (3480MHz-3530MHz) for EUR0, amendments – which comprise the expansion of the
while Digicel secured Block 2 (3530MHz-3590MHz) existing network sharing deal to include 5G and a new
for EUR10,082 (USD10,832). Orange walked away with increase in shared network density with the addition
Block 3 (3670MHz-3730MHz) for EUR10,000, while of new cell sites – were submitted for approval to the
SFR agreed to pay EUR710,114 for Block 4 (3730MHz- regulator in January 2023. The original deal was inked
3800MHz). Regarding Saint-Barthelemy and Saint-Mar- in January 2014 for a period of 20 years and initially
tin, the regulator will award a total of 100MHz of 3.4GHz- pertained to 2G/3G/4G networks over a large portion
3.8GHz spectrum each to Dauphin Telecom, Digicel and of Metropolitan France, with a temporary 4G roaming
Orange, while Free will receive 80MHz in the band. The solution. Bouygues Telecom and SFR amended their
firms will be awarded 50MHz (30MHz for Free) initially agreement in 2016 to include a trajectory for gradually
as part of the main allocation procedure, with an addi- phasing out 4G roaming by the end of 2018.
tional 50MHz to be distributed to each operator against (May 9, 2023) www.rcrwireless.com

The Ministry of Transport and Communications operators to maintain their 2G infrastructure; currently
(Liikenne- ja viestintaministerio, MoTC) has called the concessions held by DNA, Elisa and Telia Finland
for comments from interested parties on matters to for 900MHz and 1800MHz spectrum require that 2G
be considered in its review of the license terms for networks cover 99% of the population in mainland
Ghana 2G networks. Specifically, the Ministry has requested Finland. A deadline of 31 July 2023 has been set for
views on whether the Ts&Cs should continue to oblige
submissions. (June 3, 2023) www. lvm.fi

123 MAY-JUNE 2023