Page 131 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

deem it usable, citing interference with neighboring use on Dec. 5, 2019. “We will decide on the details of
frequencies and a lack of necessary tools to remedy allocating the spectrum band after a careful study of
it. After technical improvements, however, the Science the variables,” the science ministry said.
Ministry cleared the 3.4 to 3.42 GHz spectrum for (December 7, 2021) koreajoongangdaily.joins.com

Telecoms regulator, the Post and Telecom Agency (Post The Swedish Post and Telecom Agency (Post &
& Telestyrelsen, PTS), has completed its allocation Telestyrelsen, PTS) has opened applications for
of almost SEK1.6 billion (USD177 million) of funding local 5G licenses in parts of the 3.7GHz (3760MHz-
earmarked to support rural broadband rollout projects 3800MHz) and 26GHz (24.25GHz-25.1GHz) bands.
Sweden in 2021. The funds are going towards 428 separate The regulator says the permits will be suitable for use
deployments across the country, covering some 67,000 cases such as industry, mining, ports, warehouses and
premises. The watchdog said it received applications hospitals. Nationwide 5G permits in the 2.3GHz and
for projects worth around SEK7.5 billion and is 3.5GHz bands were auctioned in January 2021.
encouraging those applicants who were unsuccessful (November 23, 2021) commsupdate.com
to bid again next year. (December 7, 2021) commsupdate.com

The Federal Council has proposed increasing the Database, the universal service license is technology
minimum internet access speed that must be offered neutral, enabling Swisscom to utilize fixed and mobile
by the universal service provider to 80Mbps/8Mbps solutions to satisfy the terms of the license. In a
(downlink/uplink) from 2024 and has initiated a statement from the Federal Office of Communications
consultation process to consider the matter. State- (Ofcom, or Bundesamt fur Kommunikation, Bakom),
Switzerland owned full-service provider Swisscom is the current the regulator noted that the proposed changes would
universal service provider, although the license is due to require an amendment to the Federal Ordinance on
expire at the end of 2022. To ensure continuity of service Telecommunications Services (OST, or Verordnung
until the new provisions come into force, the regulator uber Fernmeldedienste [FDV]), adding that the changes
will extend the concession until the end of 2023. The included an explicit provision for subsidiarity: if an
current data transfer requirement for universal service alternative is already available on the market, no
provision is 10Mbps/1Mbps and came into force universal offer is required. The consultation, meanwhile,
on 1 January 2020, having previously been set at is due to until 25 March 2022.
3Mbps/300kbps (January 2018) and 2Mbps/200kbps (December 13, 2021) commsupdate.com
before that. As noted by TeleGeography’s GlobalComms

Ofcom has published its latest Connected Nations Ofcom suggested that the broadband universal service
report, which details the availability of broadband and obligation (USO) has continued to help people in areas
mobile services across the UK, in which it claims that where ‘decent’ broadband – defined as one capable of
more than eight million homes now have access to delivering download speeds of at least 10Mbps and
United a full fiber service. According to the regulator’s data, upload of 1Mbps – is still not available. According to
Ofcom’s data, and factoring in coverage from both
8.2 million British homes were within reach of full fiber
Kingdom broadband as of September 2021, a net increase of fixed and fixed wireless networks, the regulator said
around three million premises since September 2020, it estimated that just 123,000 homes and businesses
boosting coverage from 18% to 28% over the same (0.4% of the country total) were still without access to
period. Meanwhile, gigabit-capable broadband was a decent broadband connection at 30 September 2021,
reported to be available to an even greater number of down from 134,000 at May 2021 and 189,000 at end-
premises – 13.7 million (47% of homes) at September 2020. Away from fixed broadband services, Ofcom’s
2021, up from 7.9 million (27%) a year earlier. Strong Connected Nations report also offered up information
growth was attributed in part to Virgin Media’s rollout regarding the UK’s mobile sector. Most notably, Ofcom
of DOCSIS 3.1 technology across its existing cable said that, with 5G rollouts by the country’s cellcos
network; notably, Ofcom also said that, given that having ‘continued at pace’, the number of base stations
operator’s announcement that this rollout had been providing connectivity had more than doubled over the
completed in December 2021, it estimated gigabit speed last year, to around 6,500 sites, the bulk of which (87%)
broadband availability had increased to more than 60% were in England. As a result of these rollouts, Ofcom
of homes by that date. At the other end of the scale, said it estimated that 5G was available from at least

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