Page 122 - SAMENA Trends - May 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

subscriptions, which brought its customer base to 36.1 corrected reports 5G services were up and running in
million. Globacom, though the third in terms of the the nation, stating licenses for the next-generation
number of internet customers, emerged as the biggest networks were yet to be issued. It said a “mischievous
gainer for the month as it added 1.7 million new internet statement” appearing on Facebook, WhatsApp,
subscriptions in the month. This brought the number Twitter, LinkedIn and other social media sites “cannot
of the telco’s total internet customers to 30.9 million be further from the truth”. NCC vice chairman Umar
However, 9mobile maintained its fourth position with a Garba Danbatta noted with no licenses issued, MNOs
further decline in the number of its internet customers. “cannot switch on such technology”. The reports
The telco lost 96,220 customers in February, which appeared on 10 May, claiming operators were on the
reduced its total subscription number to 7.9 million. brink of launching 5G services in Lagos. Danbatta
While data subscription currently plays second fiddle explained the NCC was “technology neutral” and
to voice in terms of revenue for the telcos, it is gradually so doesn’t license technology. Rather, the regulator
becoming the main source of income as voice declines. assigns spectrum to operators once this is allocated
For instance, MTN, which recently released its Q1 2020 by the National Frequency Management Council. The
financial result disclosed that it recorded a sharp NCC pledged to keep encouraging operators to deploy
increase in data revenue, while voice revenue only “the best technology that will meet the needs of the
increased marginally. The telco’s data revenue jumped society in a secured [sic] and friendly manner”. A three-
by 59.2 per cent to N74 billion in Q1 2020, while voice month 5G test was approved by the NCC in November
revenue only grew by 7.4 per cent in the same quarter. 2019, but the trial has since concluded and equipment
(May 17, 2020) guardian.ng decommissioned, the authority noted.
(May 12, 2020) mobileworldlive.com
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)

Norway’s National Communications Authority (Nkom) to provide ‘stable’ speeds of 30Mbps downlink and
has announced the winning bidders of its multi-band 5Mbps uplink. Such speeds, it claimed, would ensure
spectrum auction that got underway earlier this month. that households have a wireless broadband service that
In the event, five of the six bidders walked away with can be used for voice and video conferencing. Other
Norway new frequencies, with Ceragon Networks being the requirements include: that subscribers on plans with
a monthly data usage cap are given the opportunity to
only company not to do so, and in total the spectrum
sale raised NOK34.26 million (USD3.4 million). Telenor buy additional data at ‘a reasonable price’ once their
Norge emerged as the biggest spender, agreeing to pay allowance is used up; and that service providers should
NOK21.98 million for spectrum in the 13GHz, 18GHz, monitor traffic on both radio access and core networks,
23GHz, 28GHz, 32GHz and 38GHz bands. Telia Norge and take measures to avoid any reduction in service
was the next highest bidder, meanwhile, offering quality. Counties and municipalities are now obliged to
NOK9.28 million for frequencies in the low 10GHz, high include these requirements in contracts with providers
10GHz, and 23GHz bands. Rounding out the country’s that roll out infrastructure on their behalf, the Nkom
mobile network operators, ice offered a total of NOK1.58 added. (May 19, 2020) commsupdate.com
million on new frequencies in the low 10GHz and
38GHz bands. Turning to other winning bidders, Funn Norway’s National Communications Authority (Nkom)
and GlobalConnect offered to pay NOK872,077 and has announced that the Broadband Development Act
NOK547,000, respectively, with the former acquiring was passed by the government last week and will
spectrum in the high 10GHz range, and the latter in the enter into force on 1 July 2020. In a press release
high 10GHz, 23GHz and 38GHz bands. In confirming confirming the development, the regulator noted that
the outcome of the auction, the Nkom noted that all the new Act implements EU Directive 2014/61 (‘on
of the winning bidders have the option of postponing measures to reduce the cost of deploying high speed
payment for their new spectrum until November 2020 electronic communications networks’) into Norwegian
– due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. law. On the back of the new regulations, Nkom has
(May 26, 2020) commsupdate.com confirmed it will establish a central information service
designed to oversee and resolve any disputes that
Norway’s National Communications Authority (Nkom) may arise between service providers over access to
has set national minimum requirements for any physical infrastructure. According to the Nkom, work
wireless broadband networks that are partly financed is already underway in this regard, with it noting that
from state funds. In a press release the telecoms it is working on the establishment of a map-based
regulator confirmed that such networks will be required web portal that will provide an overview of owners

122 MAY 2020