Page 142 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

each request on an individual basis. Authorizations for the border areas due to the necessity of coordinating
such private networks would be issued for four years frequency planning with neighboring countries. ARKEP
with the right to renew after the expiry period. ARKEP is accepting comments on its proposals until 1 July
notes that these allocations would also be limited in 2022. (June 1, 2022) commsupdate.com

The Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) has 2021 in December last year. The LCA’s Chief Regulatory
announced that the country’s mobile phone users will Officer, Thato Ponya, said the exercise is aimed at
be required to register their SIM cards with their service reducing crime committed using mobile phones. The
provider starting from 24 June. The announcement country is home to two mobile network operators,
Lesotho follows the publication of the Communications namely South Africa-based Vodacom and Econet
(Subscriber Identity Module Registration) Regulations,
Telecom Lesotho (ETL). (May 19, 2022) commsupdate.com

The telecoms watchdog the Communications to submit documents for the 700MHz auction to 25
Regulatory Authority (Rysiu Reguliavimo Tarnyba, RRT) March 2022. Subsequently, the RRT confirmed that
has kicked off the auction of 5G mobile spectrum in the the country’s three existing mobile networks operators
700MHz band. The tender comprises the sale of one – Bite Lithuania, Tele2 Lithuania and Telia Lietuva –
Lithuania 2×10MHz block (713MHz-723MHz/768MHz-778MHz) had all registered to take part in the tender. Winning
bidders are subject to certain rollout and service
and two lots of 2×5MHz (723MHz-728MHz/778MHz-
783MHz and 728MHz-733MHz/783MHz-788MHz), provision obligations, including a requirement to launch
with initial prices set at EUR5 million and EUR3 commercial 5G services in at least one of the country’s
million, respectively. Spectrum licenses are valid for five largest cities (Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipeda, Siauliai
an initial period of 20 years. In January this year the and Panevezys) within six months and to all five by 31
RRT postponed the deadline for interested parties December 2023. (May 25, 2022) commsupdate.com

Malawi could see the launch of a third mobile network population at the end of March 2022.
operator in competition with Airtel and Telekom (May 26, 2022) commsupdate.com
Networks Malawi (TNM), with local newspaper The
Times reporting that Nyasa Mobile has announced The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MA-
Malawi its intention to roll out services by the end of the year. CRA) has officially launched the Universal Service Fund
According to Nyasa Mobile’s Chairperson Konrad
(USF) Strategic Plan for the period 2022-2027. The five-
Buckle, the firm has been in discussions with UK- year plan is set to promote the adoption of ICT services
based Vodafone Group about a potential strategic in rural and underserved areas of the country. The USF,
partnership. He said the pair have been assessing the which is managed by MACRA, was established by the
telecoms industry and wanted to bring new and cheaper Communications Act No. 34 of 2016 to promote univer-
services to Malawians. It is unconfirmed when Nyasa sal access to communications services. In May 2018
Mobile, which is a subsidiary of Nyasa Manufacturing MACRA launched a consultation with stakeholders on
Company, received its mobile operating license. The a draft framework regarding the USF and the follow-
numerous attempts by the government and the Malawi ing year the Communications (Universal Service Fund)
Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) over Rules, 2019 were published by the regulator. The USF
the last 20 years to introduce much-needed competition will be used to offer subsidies on a competitive basis
to the mobile sector have so far failed. The market is to licensees, in order to give them incentives to expand
characterized by high tariffs and poor service quality, communications services to unserved and rural areas
with mobile penetration standing at just 59% of the that are not economically viable.(May 23, 2022) commsupdate.com

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia they failed to meet broadband quality of service (QoS)
Committee (MCMC) has issued a set of quality compliance standards, while it said the cellcos had also failed to
directives to domestic mobile network operators improve service quality in several identified areas in the
(MNOs) Celcom Axiata, Digi Telecommunications and state of Langkawi, including the Langkawi Highway and
Malaysia U Mobile. In a press release regarding the matter, the several tourist areas. With the three MNOs having now
regulator confirmed it had issued the directives after
been directed to make the necessary improvements
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