Page 141 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2019

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) approved the 100% Tele2 Russia takeover whilst allocating
the plan of state-backed national telco Rostelecom some of its own shares to existing Tele2 shareholders
to increase its stake in cellco Tele2 Russia from 45% including state-backed bank VTB. The approval
to 100%. Kommersant reported the day before that conditions include measures ensuring the state retains
Russia the government has approved the final scheme of overall control of Rostelecom for at least four years.
consolidation under which Rostelecom will implement
(November 13, 2019) Interfax

The Office for Regulation of Electronic Communications operator (MNO) SWAN Mobile, which trades as 4ka,
& Postal Services (Regulacny Urad, RU) has opened a will be given no advantage in the 700MHz sale, despite
consultation into the award of 5G-capable spectrum the fact that it currently only holds frequencies in
in the 700MHz band, as well as spare frequencies in the 1800MHz band, while its three larger rivals own
Slovakia the 900MHz and 1800MHz ranges. A report says that licenses covering the 800MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz and
the 700MHz spectrum will be awarded via competitive
2100MHz ranges, while two firms also own 2600MHz
auction, with six 2×5MHz blocks being made available. spectrum. Frequencies in the 900MHz and 1800MHz
A reserve of EUR15 million (USD16.7 million) has been bands will be allocated by December 2025. One block
placed on each block. The auction is expected to take of 2×4.2MHz will be offered at 900MHz, with a reserve
place in the first quarter of next year, with spectrum price of EUR840,000, while three 2×3MHz blocks will be
to be allocated by end-June. The report says that sold at 1800MHz, with a minimum price of EUR550,000
the country’s smallest and newest mobile network per block. (December 20, 2019) zive.sk

The Agency for Communications Networks & Services hoped to sell frequencies in the 700MHz, 1400MHz,
(Agencija za komunikacijska omrezja in storitve, AKOS) 2100MHz, 2300MHz, 3400MHz and 26GHz bands by
in Slovenia has said it is being forced to postpone its 30 June 2020, but now says that auction terms and
planned 5G spectrum auction to the second half of conditions will be published by that date, with the sale
2020 due to a delay in adopting the updated Radio to take place by the end of the year.
Slovenia Spectrum Management Strategy. The regulator had (December 10, 2019) commsupdate.com

The Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and regulatory frameworks in order to achieve its intended
Technology (MPTT) has announced that the National ICT goals. Earlier this year, stakeholders were given until
Policy and Strategy has been approved by the Cabinet. 31 May 2019 to submit feedback on the guidelines,
The five-year policy provides the framework needed to which were formulated with support from the ITU and
Somalia leverage the benefits of ICT to support the social and the World Bank. Commenting on the matter, Minister
economic development of the country. It outlines the for Posts, Telecommunications and Technology Abdi
development and enhancement of ICT across Somalia Ashur Hassan said: ‘We have a communications law, a
over the period 2019-2024 and aims to promote regulator and an ICT Policy and Strategy … that means
transformation, growth, inclusiveness, sustainability, the sector now has the legal and policy frameworks
innovation and partnerships in the mainstream that would allow it to develop further and attract more
economy, while recommending institutional and investment.’ (December 2, 2019) telegeography.com

The Independent Communications Authority of South municipalities, full-coverage roaming services are
Africa (ICASA) opened a consultation seeking views on only offered by two operators, and only one operator
how to boost competition in the nation’s mobile market, offers MVNO services”, the authority noted. “Vodacom
after a review pointed to barriers involving broadband is dominant in 104 municipalities by itself, MTN is
South Africa services. In a call for comments, the regulator said it dominant in 18 by itself, and MTN and Vodacom are
had discovered evidence relating to market share and
both dominant in two municipalities”, it said. To
retail pricing which pointed to a lack of competition in address site access concerns, the regulator suggested
several areas. ICASA highlighted considerable barriers more detailed guidelines and redrafting of leasing
to entering retail markets because wholesale services regulations, including a requirement to publish site
were not supplied competitively. “The market for site information online, a time limit for responding to access
access in particular is highly concentrated in many requests, and regulating when site sharing should be

141 NOVEMBER 2019