Page 148 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Office for Regulation of Electronic Communications (USD67.2 million). The new licenses will be valid from
& Postal Services (Urad pre regulaciu elektronickych 1 September 2025 and will run until end-2045. The
komunikacii a postovych sluzieb, RU) has completed regulator has not yet published the exact holdings and
its auction of 5G-capable spectrum in the 3.5GHz winning bids of the four auction participants: Orange,
Slovakia band (3410MHz-3800MHz). All four incumbent cellcos O2, Slovak Telekom (ST) and SWAN/4ka.
won frequencies, paying a total of EUR63.61 million
(May 6, 2022) commsupdate.com

The Post and Telecom Agency (Post & Telestyrelsen, assess demand for wireless spectrum in the 700MHz,
PTS) has opened applications for its auction of 1500MHz and 26GHz/28GHz bands. The regulator says
900MHz, 2100MHz and 2600MHz licenses, which is that if there is sufficient operator demand for spectrum
being held next year. Applications for the sale are open then it will begin work on formulating a distribution
Sweden until 30 September 2022, with the auction due to start plan. (May 12, 2022) commsupdate.com
in September 2023. Current licenses in the three bands
expire in 2025. (June 15, 2022) commsupdate.com The Swedish Post and Telecom Agency (Post &
Telestyrelsen, PTS) has opened another consultation
The Swedish Post and Telecom Agency (Post & into the proposed extension of licenses in the 2.6GHz
Telestyrelsen, PTS) has opened applications for its band, enabling them to run for an additional two years
2022 broadband support scheme. The regulator until end-2025. This would allow the regulator to auction
has almost SEK1.3 billion (USD130 million) funding 2.6GHz licenses along with those for the 2100MHz
available to distribute to operators looking to deploy and 900MHz bands. Under PTS proposals, the auction
broadband infrastructure in rural areas. Networks process for all three bands is due to get underway in
must provide connectivity at download rates of at least September 2023, with permits valid from the start of
1Gbps. Separately, PTS has opened an analysis to 2026. (April 27, 2022) commsupdate.com

Swiss telecoms watchdog the Federal Communications that must be offered by the universal service provider be
Commission (ComCom) has extended the universal increased to 80Mbps/8Mbps (download/upload) from
service license of state-backed incumbent operator its current 10Mbps/1Mbps. Swisscom’s current license
Swisscom for an additional year. In a statement from due to expire at the end of 2022 but due to the ongoing
the watchdog, ComCom explained that the decision was amendment process the regulator noted that ‘there
Switzerland due to the ongoing amendment of the laws concerning is no stable legal basis for reallocating the universal
the universal service for telecommunications, through service license’. As such ComCom opted to extend the
which the Federal Council are looking to revise the current license, with no changes to the content of the
scope of the service. Specifically, in December 2021 the license, until the end of 2023.
government proposed that the internet access speeds (May 19, 2022) commsupdate.com

The telecoms regulator Ofcom is consulting on conditions to protect any fixed links remaining
proposals to allow satellite operators to access temporarily in the band. Ofcom’s consultation on this
more spectrum so they can provide a wider range of matter will run until 31 August 2022. In a related matter,
broadband services, including in hard-to-reach areas. Ofcom has also announced that it has received license
United According to the watchdog, amid increased consumer applications from Starlink for six non-geostationary
satellite earth stations. Consideration is now being
demand for satellite services, it is seeking to support
Kingdom innovation by extending spectrum access under its given to Starlink’s submissions, including whether
Earth Station Network license to include the 14.25GHz- they can coexist with other satellite systems in close
14.50GHz band. Ofcom claims such a move would proximity, and any potential risks to competition. Ofcom
double the capacity available to satellite operators in has invited comments on the license applications by 19
the Ku band and would support improved broadband July 2022. (June 22, 2022) commsupdate.com
services for more rural premises. Under its proposed
approach, Ofcom has said new conditions would be Ofcom outlined an ambition to make mmWave
introduced to protect existing radio astronomy sites spectrum available to the UK’s mobile industry by 2024,
making observations in the 14.47GHz-14.50GHz band as it launched a consultation on opening access to the
from interference. It also plans to introduce temporary 26GHz and 40GHz bands. In a statement, the regulator

148 MAY-JUNE 2022