Page 145 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

external and independent advice and will present a with Inmarsat about facilitating its intended move to
government response before this summer. On the basis Greece. Also, in the 3.5GHz band, as planned, 100MHz
of the advice, the Ministry of Economic Affairs will draw (of a total possible 400MHz) will remain available for
up a new decision to amend the National Frequency ‘local wireless applications.
Plan (NFP) and in the meantime will continue to consult (May 132, 2022) rijksoverheid.nl

The telecommunications subscribers consumed have insightful and evidenced-based facts to glean the
350,165 terabytes of data in 2021. This was disclosed dynamics at play and ensure the continuous growth
by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) of the CIS segment of the telecom market. The NCC
Nigeria in its 2021 Subscriber/Network Data Annual Report takes this issue as priority in view of the critical role
released today. The report shows that the amount
played by the collocation and infrastructure sharing
of data being used by an average Nigerian increased segment of the telecom ecosystem in ensuring robust
last year. According to the data, the 2021 figure was services. Already, the Commission has engaged the
a 68% increase compared with the 205,880 terabytes services of Messrs. Price Waterhouse Cooper (PwC),
consumed in December 2020. This was in spite of a globally renowned consulting firm, to conduct the
an 8% decrease in internet subscriptions in the year. study on its behalf, in exercise of NCC’s regulatory
Affected by the directive from NCC in December 2020 to functions as provided in the Nigerian Communications
all GSM Operators to suspend the sale and registration Act (NCA), 2003. The study is expected to be concluded
of new SIMs, SIM swaps, and all porting activities, between April and July, 2022. Speaking at the NCC’s
subscriptions for internet decreased from 154.3 million stakeholders’ forum recently organized in Lagos on
as of December 2020 to 141.9 million as of December the commencement of the study, the Director, Policy,
2021. The increase in the volume of data consumption Competition and Economy Analysis (PCEA) at NCC,
by the subscribers, however, covered the network Yetunde Akinloye, who represented the Executive Vice
operators in terms of revenue. This is reflected in the Chairman of the Commission (EVC), Prof. Umar Garba
2021 financial results of two of the leading network Danbatta, said the forum was organized to intimate
operators, MTN and Airtel, which showed a surge in operators in the CIS segment of the telecom market on
earnings from data. MTN, for instance, recorded 55% the study. (May 9, 2022) sunnewsonline.com
increase in data revenue for the year as it raked in N516
from its internet customers. Airtel Nigeria also raked in The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)
N304 billion as data revenue for the year, representing a has confirmed that the winners of last December’s
41.1% increase. The two operators acknowledged that 3.5GHz spectrum auction, MTN Nigeria and Mafab
their 4G expansion across the country was the driving Communications, have each been officially issued
force for the increase in data usage by their customers. with their spectrum licenses. In line with the terms
(June 16, 2022) nairametrics.com and conditions of the concessions, the companies are
expected to commence the rollout of their 5G networks
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) from 24 August. MTN and Mafab each paid USD273.6
has commenced the process of conducting a study million for one lot of 100MHz TDD spectrum by the 24
to assess the current level of competition in the February 2022 deadline. Following the conclusion of
collocation and infrastructure sharing (CIS) segment the assignment stage, MTN selected spectrum in the
of the Nigerian telecommunications sector. Seventy- 3500MHz-3600MHz band for an additional USD15.9
eight licensees are currently operating in that market million, and the second lot (3700MHz-3800MHz) was
segment. The study is to enable the Commission to assigned to Mafab. (May 6, 2022) commsupdate.com

Three companies – Neotel, A1 Makedonia and valid for 15 years (extendable for another five years
Makedonski Telekom (Telekom) – have submitted afterwards). Neotel requested blocks В41, В44, В45
letters of interest (LoI) to the Agency for Electronic and В46 suitable for fixed services in regions 1 (Skopije,
North Communications (AEK) in regards to the forthcoming Ilinden, Petrovets, Zelenikovo, Studenichani, Sopishte,
Chucher Sandevo and Arachinovo), 4 (Bitola, Prilep,
auction for 5G spectrum. The agency published the
Macedonia results from a public hearing and position paper Demir Hisar, Krushevo, Dolneni, Krivogashtani, Mogila,
regarding its intention to conduct the tender, saying that Novaci and Resen), 5 (Ohrid, Struga, Debarca, Vevchani,
as the EoI are less/equal to the number of blocks on Kichevo, M. Brod, Drugovo, Zajac, Oslomej, Vraneshtica,
offer, it will proceed with issuing spectrum concessions Plasnica, Debar and Centar Jupa) and 6 (Tetovo,
based on the requests. The authorizations will be Gostivar, Tearce, Jegunovce, Jelino, Brvenica, Bogovinje,

145 MAY-JUNE 2022