Page 84 - SAMENA Trends - November 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

the minister stopping 5G. The importance for industry, reduction of its shareholding in 2015 by removing the
mobility and medicine is enormous,’ she added. The legal obligation for the state to hold a majority stake
telecoms regulator the Belgian Institute for Postal in Proximus and Bpost. Petra De Sutter’s predecessor,
Services and Telecommunications (BIPT) granted the Flemish liberal Philippe De Backer, advocated such
temporary user rights to spectrum in the 3.6GHz- a policy last year, arguing that ‘a government runs a
3.8GHz in July, enabling operators and businesses to country, not companies. (November 11, 2020) commsupdate.com
launch services and experiment with the technology.
(November 20, 2020) commsupdate.com Telecoms regulator the Belgian Institute for Postal
Services and Telecommunications (BIPT) has awarded
The new Belgian government has no plans to reduce Citymesh a new spectrum license in the 3.4GHz-
its 53.5% stake in full-service telecoms operator 3.6GHz band for its offshore operations in the North
Proximus, according to Petra De Sutter, the minister Sea. The company which is mainly active in the B2B
responsible for the state’s shareholdings. In a policy sector, some industrial areas in Flanders and North Sea
note, De Sutter said the importance of ‘continued public windfarms, has been granted temporary users rights to
participation’ in Proximus and the national postal a 100MHz block of frequencies (3410MHz-3510MHz)
service Bpost (51%) has become ‘all the clearer’ during to meet increased demand. The new license replaces
the COVID-19 pandemic, reports Belga news agency. its previous holdings (3430MHz-3450MHz/3530MHz-
‘As a government, we can ensure the quality of service 3550MHz) assigned in November 2019 and will be valid
in these key sectors throughout the country, without until the government organizes a public auction for the
impeding efficient operational management,’ she 3.4GHz-3.8GHz band.
said. The government opened the door to a possible (November 6, 2020) commsupdate.com

The National Telecommunications Agency (Agencia has been adopted by ANATEL in several regulations,
Nacional de Telecomunicacoes, ANATEL) has such as in the recent regulations [relating to] the
confirmed that it has approved a resolution reviewing 2.3GHz and 3.5GHz bands. Thus, in order to ensure
the usage of 1427MHz-1518MHz (1500MHz) spectrum greater efficiency and compliance … the new resolution
Brazil in the so-called ‘L-band’. The watchdog notes: ‘Thus, now allows the use of any arrangements, without
the objective is to standardize and allocate multi- population or geographical limitations, for mobile and
services for the band, according to the model that fixed multipoint services.’ (November 3, 2020) commsupdate.com

The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications that the license revocation comes just over a month
Cambodia (MPTC) has reportedly stripped ISP Chuan after the MPTC stripped 17 local telcos of various
Wei Cambodia, which trades as Wizion, of three licenses operating concessions. Companies affected on that
for breaching the terms of its concessions. According occasion included the likes of CadComms and Emaxx
Cambodia to the Phnom Penh Post, the licenses in question Telecom (mobile licenses); CN Xinyuan Interconnect,
cover VoIP, 4G and submarine cable activities. The XNET, Saturn Holdings, ATA Telecom, PPIN Internet, HT
newspaper notes that the operator will be permitted to Networks, DG Communications, DTV Star and Cambodia
retain its ISP permit if it settles its outstanding debts Broadband Technologies (ISP licenses); Aerospace
to the government. Explaining its decision, the MPTC Information Cambodia, Lim Heng Group and TPLC
said: ‘[This can be due to prolonged] inactivity, incorrect Holdings (VoIP licenses). Kingtel Communications,
self-reported income data, insufficient financial or BDKtel and Asia Star Resources Investment Holding
technical documentation, unsettled debts, or unpaid were also subject to regulatory intervention.
levies owed to the government.’ TeleGeography notes (November 27, 2020) commsupdate.com

Tue federal government has increased the funding several other initiatives, the government now aims
available through the Universal Broadband Fund to ensure 98% of Canadians can access high speed
to CAD1.75 billion (USD1.35 billion), an increase (50Mbps/10Mbps down/upload) connectivity by
of CAD750 million from the original CAD1 billion 2026, an increase from the previous commitment of
Canada allocated to the Fund in its 2019 budget, stating that 95% for that year in Canada’s Connectivity Strategy
the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the importance set in June 2019. To help accelerate the timeline for
of access to high speed internet. Via the Fund and new connections, the government is including a Rapid

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