Page 93 - SAMENA Trends - November 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Swedish regulator PTS said it intends to extend is the most favorable way to achieve effective use of
permits for use of the 2.6 GHz band, in order to align frequencies, among other things. The extension can
allocation of those frequencies with allocation of 2.1 only take effect once a new telecommunications law
GHz spectrum. It said consultations earlier this year enters force. The 2.6 GHz permits will be extended until
with affected parties had found them to support the 31 December 2025 from the end of 2023.
alignment. PTS said extending the 2.6 GHz permits (November 1, 2020) telecompaper.com

The Federal Council has passed revised implementation that the current legislation on frequency management
provisions for the Telecommunications Act based and radio licenses will be completely replaced by a
on the partial revision of the legislation which new ordinance on radio frequency spectrum. The
was passed by parliament in March 2019. The provisions relate to the following seven ordinances
amendments are intended to modernize and update and take effect from 1 January 2021: Ordinance on
Switzerland the legislation and whilst sector watchdog the Federal Telecommunications Services (FDV); Ordinance on
Office of Communications (Ofcom, or Bundesamt Addressing Elements in the Telecommunications
fur Kommunikation, Bakom) notes that many of the Sector (AEFV); Ordinance on Internet Domains
adjustments are ‘of a technical nature’, they also result (VID); Ordinance on the Use of the Radio Frequency
in further improvements in consumer protection. Areas Spectrum (VNF); Ordinance on Telecommunications
touched on by the amendments include the registration Systems (FAV); Ordinance on Electromagnetic
of service providers, billing modalities for international Compatibility (VEMV); and Ordinance on Fees in the
roaming, cybercrime and management of personal Telecommunications Sector (GebV-FMG).
data. Spectrum management, meanwhile, has received (November 19, 2020) telecompaper.com
a more substantial overhaul, with the Ofcom noting

The National Communications Authority (ANC) has releasing spectrum in the 1800MHz, 2300MHz and
invited mobile operators to submit applications for 2600MHz bands, the ANC said it is aiming to: support
the allocation of spectrum in the 1800MHz, 2300MHz the implementation of government policies; meet the
and 2600MHz bands. The move follows a consultation need of mobile service providers, especially to provide
Timor-Leste meeting held last month between the regulator and better data services for customers in urban areas;
operators in response to new policy guidelines issued promote the efficient use of radio frequency spectrum;
by the Ministry of Transport and Communications on and promote competition in the sector.
maximizing the use of radio frequency spectrum in (November 24, 2020) commsupdate.com
Timor-Leste (No. 04/2020 of 23 September 2020). In

Togo Cellulaire (Togocel) has been granted a licence than those offered by 4G by 2025 – part of the owner’s
to trial 5G services in real world conditions in the seven-year development program for the company.
country. The move comes two years after Togocel, the Togocel leads the way in the mobile market with
mobile arm of holding company TogoCom, switched on around 3.4 million subscribers at end-September 2020,
Togo its 4G network, with the long term objective being to a market share of 52%, ahead of the country’s second
offer the Togolese population speeds four times faster player Moov Togo, with 48%. (November 23, 2020) Republique

The President Museveni has inaugurated the country’s funding from the World Bank. Districts covered by the
fourth national fiber-optic network rollout project. The rollout include Pakwach, Nebbi, Arua, Yumbe, Koboko,
deployment of the new infrastructure covering the Adjumani, Katakwi, Oraba, Vurra and Mpondwe. NITA-U
West Nile and Karamoja regions was begun in May had previously connected 39 districts under the first
Uganda 2019 and construction was completed in March this three phases of its backbone rollout, offering access
to government offices and public buildings such as
year. 1,590km of fiber network has been installed by
Huawei under the supervision of the Uganda National schools and hospitals.
Information Technology Authority (NITA-U), with (November 24, 2020) commsupdate.com

93 NOVEMBER 2020