Page 124 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Tigo Guatemala successfully bid on the largest amount The Superintendence of Telecommunications
of 2.5GHz-2.6GHz spectrum in the frequency sale (Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones, SIT) will
held by the Superintendence of Telecommunications stage an auction of unused frequencies in the 2.5GHz-
(Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones, SIT) on 2.6GHz range on 2 June. Interested parties have
Guatemala Friday 2 June. According to TeleSemana, the auction until 19 May to register their interest in joining the
raised a total of USD48.947 million, of which 75% will
bidding process. The process is expected to generate
be allocated towards connectivity projects. A total between USD30 million and USD50 million, and 75%
of 126MHz of spectrum went under the hammer, of the proceeds will be allocated towards connectivity
comprising frequencies in the 2500MHz-2550MHz and projects. The SIT first disclosed plans to auction the
2604MHz-2680MHz bands. As per the report, Tigo paid spectrum in September 2022, after receiving a number
a total of USD32.236 million to acquire the rights to of requests from local mobile operators Claro and
the spectrum in Blocks B to H, while Tigo’s sole mobile Tigo. At that time Comunicaciones Celulares (as Claro
Draft
rival, Claro Guatemala, paid USD16.711 million for the is legally known) applied for 34 of the 48 available
spectrum included in Blocks A and A´. regional spectrum blocks, while Telecomunicaciones
(June 5, 2023) www.telecompaper.com de Guatemala (Tigo) applied for just five blocks, with a
focus on larger spectrum allocations.
(May 10, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

The Communications Authority (CA) laid out plans to incumbent MNOs and new entrants. The spectrum
reassign a total of 110MHz of 4G and 5G spectrum utilization fee (SUF) will be determined by auction,
across two bands by holding an auction in 2024. In with reserve prices to be specified nearer the time of
a statement, CA explained current assignments of the auction. Spectrum assignees will have a choice to
Hong Kong 20MHz of spectrum in the 850MHz to 900MHz band, pay the SUF upfront or through 15 annual instalments,
and 90MHz in the 2.3GHz band are set to expire in May
with 2.5 per cent interest added each year. Assignees
2026 and March 2027, respectively. It plans a “market- will be required to provide a minimum coverage of 90
based approach” for reassignment. The 20MHz in the per cent of the population within five years. Details of
850MHz to 900MHz band will be divided into two paired the reassignment were determined following a public
frequency blocks of 2x5MHz each. A spectrum cap of consultation conducted between November 2022 and
10MHz will be imposed. The 90MHz of 2.3GHz spectrum January 2023. Hong Kong’s last spectrum action was
will be split into nine 10MHz blocks, with a 50MHz held in October 2021 and generated HKD1.9 billion
spectrum cap. All blocks have 15-year terms. CA noted ($242 million) from the sale of 255MHz of spectrum
spectrum will be auctioned together in a simultaneous across four bands.
multiple round ascending format. The sale is open to (May 3, 2023) www.mobileworldlive.com

The National Media & Infocommunications Authority two lots (2×56MHz, total 112MHz). Note that CETIN
(Nemzeti Media- es Hirkozlesi Hatosag, NMHH) has is the infrastructure-owning sister company of Yettel
announced the results of the auction of spectrum Hungary; the Yettel fights closely for second place with
licenses in the 32GHz frequency band, with all Vodafone in the Hungarian mobile network operator
Hungary three participating companies – Magyar Telekom, market in terms of subscriptions, behind clear leader
Magyar Telekom. The NMHH has underlined that the
Vodafone Hungary and CETIN Hungary – winning 15-
year concessions with total bids of HUF970 million allocation of the currently-unused 32GHz spectrum
(USD2.79 million). Bidding closed on 23 May, after contributes to the scheduled clearance of the 26GHz
initial offers were submitted on 13 March and second- band – currently used for carrier network services –
round bidding opened on 25 April. Of the 24 duplex lots and the subsequent reallocation of 26GHz frequencies
(each 2×28MHz) of frequencies offered by the NMHH, for 5G purposes. The 26GHz mmWave spectrum band
18 lots were awarded in contiguous blocks as follows: has increasingly featured in the 5G license auction
Vodafone won ten lots (2×280MHz, or total spectrum strategies of countries worldwide.
of 560MHz); Magyar Telekom successfully bid for six (May 26, 2023) www.mobileworldlive.com
lots (2×168MHz, total 336MHz); and CETIN acquired

124 MAY-JUNE 2023