Page 123 - SAMENA Trends - May 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

of existing physical infrastructure suitable for the NOK197,000. Meanwhile, there are two spectrum caps
transmission of broadband. This portal, which is that will apply, with the first setting a 370MHz limit on
expected to become available by the start of 2021, will the amount of spectrum that each operator may hold
also contain information on planned construction work across the low 10GHz, high 10GHz and 13GHz bands.
by geographical area. (May 12, 2020) commsupdate.com A second cap means each operator may hold no more
than 2,545MHz across all eight of the bands in which
The National Communications Authority (Nasjonal frequencies are being made available. In March 2020
kommunikasjonsmyndighet, Nkom) has confirmed the regulator publicly identified the six companies that
that a multi-band spectrum auction, in which it is had qualified to bid, namely: Ceragon Networks, Funn,
offering a total of 4,379MHz, kicked off on 6 May. With GlobalConnect, Ice Communication Norge, Telenor
the regulator claiming that the frequencies on offer will Norge and Telia Norge. According to the Nkom, it has
‘contribute to further development of 5G and make … continuously assessed whether to proceed with the
mobile networks more robust’, the available spectrum auction, given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but
has been split into a total of 65 blocks across several decided to do so in part after considering input from
bands – low, 10GHz and high, 10GHz, 13GHz, 18GHz, the companies that had registered to take part.
23GHz, 28GHz, 32GHz and 38GHz – with pre-block (May 6, 2020) commsupdate.com
reserve prices ranging from NOK14,000 (USD1,361) to

Poland’s Minister of Digitisation Marek Zagorski says made available to winning bidders to enable them to
he still expects 5G spectrum to be auctioned this year, launch commercial services this year. Some operators
despite the recent postponement of the sale of licenses are pushing ahead with 5G rollouts in other bands, with
in the 3.4GHz-3.8GHz range. The government began Polkomtel (Plus) having recently launched services in
Poland the auction process in March but halted it last month, seven cities using 2.6GHz frequencies.
saying that it would be re-run once the COVID-19 crisis
(May 13, 2020) commsupdate.com
has passed. The Minister says that licenses will be

The telecom regulator has confirmed that it will open a Management Strategy forced the regulator to revise
consultation on the country’s delayed auction of new this plan, and it is now targeting an auction before the
spectrum frequencies. The Agency for Communications end of the year. The consultation meanwhile will open
Networks & Services originally planned to hold bidding by July or August, with the regulator also set to publish
for frequencies in the 700MHz, 1400/1500MHz, documents covering the use and sale of 700MHz
Slovenia 2100MHz, 2300MHz, 3600MHz and 26GHz bands spectrum for M2M services. A separate consultation
before the end of June this year. However, issues with covering Slovenia’s spectrum management strategy for
implementing an updated Radio Frequency Spectrum 2021-2023 is also planned. (May 27, 2020) developingtelecoms.com

South Korea’s three mobile network operators (MNOs) cellular providers are understood to be pressing for a
– SK Telecom, KT Corp and LG Uplus – are reportedly more concrete calculation standard, arguing that it is
calling on the government to revise the methodology difficult for them to estimate total sales figures for a
for calculating the cost of extending their respective license period that can run for between five and ten
South Korea 2G/3G/4G concessions. The three cellcos are set to years. Regarding this matter, KT CEO Ku Hyeon-mo
was cited as saying to ICT Minister Choi Ki-young at a
clash with the authorities over the costs of renewing
concessions that are set to expire in June 2021, with meeting last month: ‘We are investing heavily in the 5G
a renegotiation for an extension of these licenses network to revitalize the economy from COVID-19, but
expected to get underway next month. The report if the frequency band reassignment cost is excessive
claims that a conflict has arisen over the government’s it would become a heavier burden … Please revise
price assessment procedures, which sets the cost price-setting procedures so it would become more
of spectrum license renewals in consideration of reasonable.’
operator’s expected total sales. However, the trio of (May 11, 2020) The Korea Times

123 MAY 2020