Page 130 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2019

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

of 2×5MHz and CTE Telecom Personal (Claro) walking in the 1700MHz/2100MHz (AWS and Extended
away with four, while SIGET has retained the remaining AWS) band. Divided into twelve lots of 2×5MHz, the
three blocks for future allocation. Each block of frequencies on offer include 90MHz in the 1710MHz-
2×5MHz had a reserve price of USD6.25 million. SIGET 1755MHz/2110MHz-2155MHz (AWS) range and a
is also set to auction off 20MHz of mobile spectrum further 30MHz in the 1755MHz-1770MHz/2155MHz-
in the 1900MHz (PCS) band later this week. Divided 2170MHz (Extended AWS) band. Each block of 2×5MHz
into two lots of 2×5MHz, the frequencies on offer has a reserve price of USD6.25 million. The regulator
include 10MHz in the 1850MHz-1855MHz/1930MHz- has invited interested parties to submit applications by
1935MHz range, and a further 10MHz in the 1855MHz- the end of 27 November, with the auction set to take
1860MHz/1935MHz-1940MHz band. Each block of place on 5 December. Previously, SIGET had earmarked
2×5MHz has a reserve price of USD6.25 million. a further 20MHz of spectrum in the 1850MHz-
(December 9, 2019) commsupdate.com 1860MHz/1930MHz-1940MHz band for allocation
alongside the AWS frequencies, but no announcement
The Electricity and Telecommunications has been made on when this might now take place.
Superintendency (SIGET) has announced it will hold the (November 8, 2019) telegeography.com
long-delayed auction of 120MHz of mobile spectrum

Safaricom of Kenya has confirmed that it will register telecoms licenses to international telecoms operators
a bid for one of the two new licenses being tendered by April 2020. According to Brook Taye, senior advisor
by the Ethiopian Communications Authority (ECA). The to the Ministry of Finance, a total of 22 companies have
Kenyan market leader will be supported in its bid by its shown an interest in the new concessions to date. Mr.
Ethiopia indirect shareholder, Vodacom Group of South Africa. Taye told the Addis Fortune: ‘We’ll shortlist eight to
Reuters quotes Safaricom’s interim CEO Michael nine companies and will send a request for proposals
Joseph as suggesting that the cost of the license for these companies in one month.’ This aspect of the
could reach as much as USD1 billion, when the cost process is expected to take place before 30 November.
of spectrum is factored in. Ethiopia plans to award two (November 4, 2019) telegeography.com

The French government has launched a procedure Minister indicates that the country’s 5G spectrum is up
for the assignment of 5G frequency authorizations, for sale, with a massive floor price. The initial price will
following approval of the specifications proposed by be 2.17 billion euros, which is around $2.4 billion. The
telecoms regulator Arcep and the financial conditions amount comes as quite a surprise since earlier reports
France for the concessions. The government has set the price from the country’s telecoms regulator priced 5G
significantly below this amount. The regulator, known
of the 50MHz blocks of 3.4GHz-3.8GHz spectrum at
EUR350 million (USD386 million), while the additional as Arcep, previously decided that the spectrum’s initial
blocks of 10MHz will cost EUR70 million. Junior price should be at around EUR 1.5 billion. However,
Economy Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said that according to Arcep’s President, Sebastien Soriano, the
the government and Arcep have designed a mechanism country’s Economy Ministry has the final word on the
to sell 50MHz basic blocks at a fixed price to telecom 5G spectrum’s floor price. According to Agnès Pannier-
operators, though the concessions come with strict Runacher, the Junior Economy Minister, the proposed
obligations to deploy 5G networks across the French price seems more than reasonable. The ministry has
territory: ‘These 5G coverage commitments are much provided its recommendation, and now it is up to
more ambitious than in other European countries the government to ‘assume its responsibilities and
and will in future constitute a strong element of our decide. The sale of the 5G spectrum was expected for
country’s competitiveness.’ Arcep meanwhile said in a long time, and the announcement finally came last
a separate statement that it plans to sell 310MHz of Thursday. The announcement comes after months
spectrum; operators will be given 15 years to pay for of negotiations between France’s authorities and its
the four 50MHz blocks on offer, while the additional four major telecoms (Orange, Altice Europe’s SFR,
10MHz ranges will be payable over four years. Iliad, and Bouygues Telecoms) regarding the methods
(December 18, 2019) commsupdate.com of 5G’s deployment. Telecoms and the government
also had trouble reaching an agreement regarding
According to France’s Minister, the country’s 5G the auction and the minimum price for the spectrum,
spectrum will be sold for a massive floor price of $2.4 according to unnamed sources. The authorities were
billion (2.17 billion euros). A recent statement by France’s seemingly focusing on finding the balance between

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