Page 135 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Telecoms regulator the Belgian Institute for Postal the 3600MHz band, which will expire on 6 May 2040.
Services and Telecommunications (BIPT) has Citymesh Mobile (owned by B2B networks provider
announced that the main phase of the auction of new Citymesh [51%] and RCS&RDS [49%], of which Digi
5G spectrum (700MHz and 3600MHz) and existing 2G Communications is the main shareholder) exercised an
Belgium and 3G frequencies (900MHz, 1800MHz and 2100MHz) option at the end of March 2022 to obtain a reserved
has concluded after three weeks of bidding, raising radio spectrum package of 30MHz duplex in the
more than EUR1.202 billion (USD1.264 billion) – some various radio frequency bands for both 5G and 2G,
EUR468.5 million higher than the reserve price. In 3G and 4G applications against payment of EUR83.34
addition to the incumbent mobile operators Orange million, enabling it to enter the market with an adequate
Belgium, Proximus and Telenet, two new entrants – spectrum package. The three existing mobile operators
Citymesh Mobile and IT services provider Network also took up an option to acquire the radio spectrum
Research Belgium (NRB) – also succeeded in securing reserved for them against payment of EUR73 million
part of the available spectrum. Proximus spearheaded each, in order to guarantee the continuity of their
the bidding, agreeing to pay a total of EUR491.1 million current services. The selected candidates must now
for a package of spectrum in the five bands, while submit to the BIPT no later than 5 July a common
Orange, Telenet and Citymesh also secured user rights proposal per frequency band for the positioning of the
to frequencies in the blocks, bidding EUR321.5 million, various frequency blocks, failing which an extra round
EUR264.4 million and EUR114.3 million respectively. of bidding will take place. The BIPT will now organize
NRB agreed to pay EUR10.97 million for a 20MHz block a third procedure to allocate 90MHz of spectrum in the
of 3600MHz spectrum. User rights will be valid for a 1400MHz for a period of 20 years.
period of 20 years, with the exception of frequencies in (June 21, 2022) commsupdate.com

The government is implementing new measures rural connectivity initiative that aims to connect 500
to help expand connectivity across the country. villages with digital infrastructure. This in turn will
Botswana’s Minister of Communications, Knowledge provide internet access to clinics, schools, businesses
and Technology Thulagano Segokgo confirmed the and municipal buildings in previously unconnected
Botswana government’s goal of extending the geographical range regions. The government also plans to announce a
of mobile signal in the country, as well as pushing fixed number of online government services in June this year.
services to unconnected rural areas. Segokgo noted “Connectivity, like access to water, is simply a human
that the ministry was assessing the tariffs offered by right,” said Segokgo. “Such efforts and commitment
operators and internet service providers to ensure that will ensure that our citizens have access to government
“favorable packages [are] accessible to consumers”, services around the clock, everywhere and anywhere.
and added that the government would “strive to look This will bring convenience to elders and eliminate
at other policy measures we can adopt to reduce the unnecessary visits to government offices and also
input costs for operators and in turn reduce tariffs.” spending several hours in queues.”
Botswana’s government is currently implementing a (May 24, 2022) developingtelecoms.com

The National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) The National Telecommunications Agency (Agencia
has approved a 60-day extension to the deadline for Nacional de Telecomunicacoes, Anatel) approved the
launching 5G services in the 3300MHz-3700MHz band sale of Oi’s V.tal unit (formerly known as InfraCo) on 5
for winners of frequency auctions in all state capitals May. According to the watchdog, the transaction will
Brazil and the Federal District. The deadline for releasing take place in three stages: firstly, control of Globenet
will pass to investment vehicles managed by the BTG
the commercial 5G frequencies has now been moved
from 30 June to 29 August 2022, while the deadline for Group; secondly, control of V.tal will pass to Globenet;
activating 5G services with at least one base station per and finally, Globenet will be incorporated by V.tal. On
100,000 inhabitants of each capital has been moved 25 January 2021 Oi signed an exclusivity agreement
from 31 July to 29 September 2022. Anatel disclosed relating to the sale of its fiber-optic InfraCo unit. The
that delays in equipment supply had led to the extension, contract was signed with Globenet Cabos Submarinos,
in particular equipment used to mitigate interference BTG Pactual Economia Real Fundo de Investimento em
in satellite stations from usage of the 3300MHz- Participacoes Multiestrategia and other investment
3700MHz band, due to factors including shortages of funds managed or controlled by the BTG Group. The
semiconductors, lockdowns in China, limitations of air staggered BRL11.4 billion (USD2.2 billion) transaction
transport and delayed customs clearance. was approved by the Administrative Council for
(June 6, 2022) commsupdate.com Economic Defence (Conselho Administrativo de Defesa

135 MAY-JUNE 2022