Page 118 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) has which will see the winning bidders extend coverage to
announced that authorization contracts for the use of predetermined underserved areas. As per the terms of
radio frequencies in the 700MHz, 2.3GHz, 3.5GHz and the auction, winning bidders must offer 5G services
26GHz bands were signed, at a ceremony at Planalto in all state capitals and the Federal District (Distrito
Brazil Palace. Speaking at the event, President Jair Bolsonaro Federal) by 31 July 2022. (November 10, 2021) TeleTime
stated: ‘By the middle of next year, all capitals will have
5G. It is a leap for communications in Brazil and in IoT. The authorities talked-up the success of its 5G
For commerce, this is priceless.’ He added that all paved spectrum auction, where big name operators and a
federal highways will also receive 5G coverage; this will handful of other parties pledged to spend a total of
include 2,349 separate stretches of highway for a total BRL47.2 billion ($8.5 billion) on allocations. National
of 35,784km. As previously reported by CommsUpdate, licenses and several regional allocations went to its
the multi-band frequency sale drew to a close on three biggest existing players America Movil’s Claro,
Friday 5 November, generating total bids of BRL47.2 Telecom Italia’s TIM Brasil and Telefonica’s Vivo. New
billion (USD8.5 billion), although around BRL7.44 player Winity II also won a nationwide block in the
billion of the total commitments will be converted into 700MHz band, though the business is yet to confirm
‘goodwill’ bonds, which will see the winning bidders its intentions. Regional or limited licenses were won by
extend coverage to predetermined underserved areas. Sercomtel, Brisanet, Consorcio 5G Sul, Cloud2u, Algar
As per the terms of the auction, winning bidders must Telecom, Neko and Fly Link. In a statement, regulator
offer 5G services in all state capitals and the Federal Anatel revealed “virtually all” lots covering the 700MHz,
District (Distrito Federal) by 31 July 2022. The winning 2.3GHz and 3.5GHz bands were sold with most rejected
bidders include mobile giants Claro Brasil, Telefonica allocations in the 26GHz band. It estimates the value of
Brasil (Vivo) and TIM Brasil, alongside regional telcos the unsold licenses at between BRL7 billion and BRL8
such as Brisanet, Sercomtel and Algar Telecom. Private billion, with those set to be offered at a later sale. Anatel
equity-backed Winity Telecom was a notable bidder for hailed the sale as the largest ever spectrum offering in
700MHz frequencies, while Consorcio 5G Sul (Copel Latin America, adding it was “a success from every
Telecom and Unifique), Cloud2u and Neko Servicos possible perspective”. The regulator’s competition
also acquired selected spectrum blocks around the superintendent, Abraao Balbino e Silva, said the sold
country. (December 8, 2021) commsupdate.com frequencies were largely “ones that, in fact, have
the most urgent need for the commercialization
The winners of Brazil’s recent 5G spectrum auction of services”. “We never had an auction with such
can expect to receive their final authorizations from economic volume involved: privatization did not yield
the government on 14 December. The multi-band that, 3G did not yield that, 4G did not yield that,” he
frequency sale drew to a close on Friday 5 November, added. By the end of the first day (4 November) of the
generating total bids of BRL47.2 billion (USD8.5 two day sale operators had pledged to buy lots with the
billion), although around BRL7.44 billion of the total value of over BRL7.1 billion.
commitments will be converted into ‘goodwill’ bonds, (November 8, 2021) mobileworldlive.com

Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, the auction framework to support competition, and
Francois-Philippe Champagne, announced the launch additional provisions to support Canada’s Connectivity
of the consultation on a policy and licensing framework Strategy. This consultation follows the decision to
Canada for spectrum in the 3800MHz band to support 5G repurpose the 3800MHz band to support 5G services,
which was announced in May 2021, with a 3800MHz
and promote competition in mobile services. The
consultation specifically seeks input on issues such spectrum auction planned for early 2023. Comments
as the network build-out requirements that should will be accepted for a 60-day period, followed by a 30-
be imposed on license holders, measures within day reply period. (December 21, 2021) commsupdate.com

Colombia’s Ministry of Information Technologies spectrum caps below 3GHz and introducing a new
and Communications (Ministerio de Tecnologias de spectrum cap for frequencies between 3GHz and 6GHz.
la Informacion y las Comunicaciones, MinTIC) has MinTIC is expected to raise the cap for low bands
revealed plans to issue a public consultation relating (698MHz-960MHz) to 50MHz, establish a 95MHz cap
Colombia to spectrum caps, as it seeks to further the country’s in medium bands (1710MHz-2690MHz) and apply
5G ambitions. The Telecoms Minister Carmen Ligia an 80MHz cap for upper-medium bands (3300MHz-
Valderrama told delegates attending the Andicom 2021 3700MHz). All 400MHz in the 3.5GHz band could be
event that the watchdog is considering increasing made available for 5G services. On 29 December 2017

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