Page 116 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

REGULATORY ACTIVITIES BEYOND

THE SAMENA REGION

Telecoms and broadcasting regulators, the Electronic of moving towards compliance with deadlines set by
and Postal Communications Authority (Autoritetit Te the EU and ITU; in an October 2020 paper, the ITU had
Komunikimeve Elektronike Dhe Postare, AKEP) and recommended a target of end-2022 for the migration of
Audiovisual Media Authority (Autoriteti i Mediave media broadcast operators from the 700MHz and the
Albania Audiovizive, AMA) have signed a memorandum of reissue of the spectrum to mobile network operators
cooperation, agreeing to work together to address (MNOs). Other areas of cooperation will include the
areas of common interest to the two bodies. In a establishment of a joint group to monitor interference
joint statement the pair said they would cooperate and the creation of a unified inventory of frequencies.
on the release of the 700MHz band by the AMA and (November 9, 2021) commsupdate.com
the administration of the band by AKEP with the goal

The telecoms regulator INACOM could announce Unitel has indicated its readiness to roll out the new
the allocation of the country’s first commercial 5G technology once it gains regulatory permission.
spectrum before the end of the year. The distribution Newcomer to the Angolan cellular market Africell
of the 3.3GHz-3.7GHz frequency band for the intends to introduce its commercial services soon with
Angola development of 5G technology was recently approved ‘5G-ready’ infrastructure, upgradeable from 4G via
under a presidential order, whilst mobile market leader software updates. (December 15, 2021) Expansao

Australia’s Department of Infrastructure, Transport, also delivered more equitable holdings of the critical
Regional Development and Communications low-band spectrum”. Telstra stated its allotment was
(DITRDC) has announced that the government is the maximum amount of low-band spectrum it was
investing a further AUD20 million (USD14 million) allowed to bid for under limits set by the government.
Australia in funding for a second round of the ‘Australian 5G It how holds 2x40MHz of low-band spectrum in major
Innovation Initiative’. In a press release regarding the cities and 2x45MHz in regional and remote areas.
development, the government body suggested that the The Australian Communications and Media Authority
initiative ‘will enable organizations to trial the use of (ACMA) stated Optus won 12 of 16 lots, with two
5G technologies that could transform the Australian allocated at a pre determined price and a pair of 1MHz
economy and encourage more businesses to adopt blocks automatically assigned for winning the 900MHz
5G technology’. With the DITRDC having said that the allocation. Acting ACMA chair Creina Chapman said the
second round of the initiative will make an additional spectrum was designed to support 4G and 5G network
AUD20 million available for projects, it noted that up to deployments. Minister for Communications, Urban
AUD2 million of this will be allocated for projects in the Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher stated
Western Parkland City which will build on the Australian “the outcome of this auction is an important milestone
Government’s investments under the Western Sydney in making sure the benefits of 5G will be shared by all
City Deal. Consultation on the draft guidelines for the Australians.” The spectrum licenses commence on 1
second round of funding will commence in the coming July 2024 with a 20-year term compared with the 15
weeks, the DITRDC noted, with applications to open years of previous allocations. ACMA auctioned 26GHz
early in 2022. (December 10, 2021) commsupdate.com mmWave spectrum in April. (December 8, 2021) mobileworldlive.com
Australian operators Optus and Telstra boosted their The government has announced the passing of the
nationwide spectrum holdings, spending AUD2.1 billion ‘Telstra Corporation and Other Legislation Amendment
($1.5 billion) for 850MHz and 900MHz airwaves in the Bill 2021’, a piece of legislation designed to guarantee
country’s latest auction. Optus acquired 2x25MHz of ‘that important consumer outcomes continue to be
900MHz spectrum for AUD1.5 billion, while Telstra delivered regardless of how fixed line incumbent
secured 2x10MHz in the 850MHz band for AUD616 Telstra structures itself, both now and in the future
million. In a statement, Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin through a flexible regulatory framework’. Announcing
praised the “competitive auction process that has the development, Minister for Communications, Urban

116 NOV-DEC 2021