Page 147 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

government expecting to raise almost PLN1.9 billion on 14 December 2021 to extend its concession which
from the process. (April 24, 2022) commsupdate.com is set to expire at the end of this year. The operator is
looking to use 29.6MHz of frequencies in the 2100MHz
The Polish telecoms regulator, the Office of Electronic range until 31 December 2037. The license renewal will
Communications (Urzad Komunikacji Elektronicznej, cost Plus PLN403.4 million (USD94.4 million). Poland’s
UKE), has opened a consultation regarding the other cellcos – Orange, Play and T-Mobile – are also
extension of the 2100MHz spectrum license held by looking to renew their 2100MHz concessions, with the
cellco Plus (registered as Polkomtel). According to government expecting to raise almost PLN1.9 billion
a report from Telko.in, Plus submitted an application from the process. (April 22, 2022) commsupdate.com

The National Communications Authority (ANACOM) terrestrial electronic communications services
has launched a public consultation on the availability (servicos de comunicacoes eletronicas terrestres
of spectrum in the 1427MHz-1517MHz (‘1500MHz’) (SCET) in 2023-2024. The ‘L-band’ is currently used to
frequency band. The consultation aims to collect support 4G technology in markets as disparate as San
Portugal the position of the various market participants Marino and Japan, and has been used for 5G in Latvia.
(manufacturers, operators, private and public entities, Further, 1500MHz frequencies have been earmarked
users and others) on the availability of said spectrum. for future use in many other major markets around the
The spectrum could potentially come into play for world. (June 29, 2022) commsupdate.com

The Ministry of Digital Development, Communications under their national 4G licenses renewed last year –
& Mass Media will extend the period of allocation of but successive regulatory decisions have repeatedly
analogue TV frequencies in the 700MHz range for prolonged the frequencies’ analogue broadcasting
another year, taking the expiry date to August 2023. allocations, despite the completion of digital terrestrial
Russia The 700MHz spectrum has been earmarked for 4G/5G TV rollout in 2019. The renewed analogue TV bands
mobile broadband services for a decade – with the include frequencies within the ranges 175MHz-230MHz
main cellcos MTS, MegaFon, Beeline and Tele2 Russia and 470MHz-790MHz.
holding theoretical rights to 700MHz bandwidth (June 15, 2022) Kommersant

The Regulation Authority for Telecommunications and enabling them to work together on improving the service
Posts (L’Autorite de Regulation des Telecommunications provided to end-users. It is hoped the committee will
et des Postes, ARTP) has established a steering help identify issues hindering coverage and service
committee to coordinate efforts to increase mobile improvement and enable operators to optimize their
Senegal network coverage and enhance quality of service (QoS). investment plans in partnership with the regulator.
The body aims to strike a balance between network (May 5, 2022) commsupdate.com
operators, ISPs, MVNOs and consumer associations,

The Congress of Deputies approved the revision of the public administration authorities to guarantee telecoms
2014 General Telecommunications Law with a majority operators access to public electricity, gas and water
vote on 9 June. The amendment received 291 votes in infrastructure to assist with the deployment of fixed
favor, 51 against and no abstentions. One of the key broadband networks. While the 100Mbps rollout targets
Spain clauses included in the updated law will see minimum may seem ambitious, 95.2% of the population can
download speeds increased to 100Mbps for 100% of the
already receive access to download speeds of 30Mbps,
population within the next twelve months – compared while 87.6% have access to 100Mbps speeds.
to a previous target of 2025. Another addition compels (June 13, 2022) commsupdate.com

147 MAY-JUNE 2022