Page 115 - SAMENA Trends - Oct-Nov 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

from coverage improvements through projects that for regional and remote communities, motorists and
are already approved and funded across the ‘Regional tourists in 42 target areas.’ She added: ‘The [IMCR] is a
Connectivity Progam’ and ‘Peri-Urban Mobile Program’, small part of our government’s work to improve regional
or through commercial solutions. Commenting on communications, and comes in addition to our AUD1.1
the development, communications minister Michelle billion Better Connectivity Plan – the most significant
Rowland said: ‘These successful grant outcomes investment in regional communications since the
will deliver improved coverage and quality of service inception of the NBN.’ (October 23, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

The Board of Directors at Brazil’s National In doing so, the watchdog has increased the amount
Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) has approved of available mobile spectrum between 1GHz and
the allocation of 120MHz of spectrum in the 4.9GHz 6GHz from 1060MHz to 1180MHz. Despite the move,
band for 5G use. The spectrum in question – which Anatel counsellor Moises Moreira noted that there are
Brazil encompasses the 4830MHz-4950MHz range – will be no immediate plans to stage an auction of the 4.9GHz
made available on a primary and non-exclusive basis.
frequencies. (November 1, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

The Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) of 723MHz/768MHz-778MHz (2×10MHz)
Bulgaria has issued a notification via its website on the • one license covering frequency bands 723MHz-
issuance of three 15-year mobile licenses for the use of 733MHz/778MHz-788MHz (2×10MHz).
radio frequency spectrum in the 700MHz band, along Alongside this, the regulator will issue the following
Bulgaria with three licenses in the 800MHz band, all with national allocations in the 800MHz band:
• one license covering frequency bands 791MHz-
coverage. The awards are being carried out pursuant
to Art. 91, para. 1 and application with entry No. 08- 801MHz/832MHz-842MHz (2×10MHz)
01-436/18.10.2023, supplemented by entry No. 08-01- • one license covering frequency bands 801MHz-
436-1/19.10.2023 (submitted by A1 Bulgaria), it said. 811MHz/842MHz-852MHz (2×10MHz)
In the CRC notification dated 24 October, the telecoms • one license covering frequency bands 811MHz-
industry regulator stated: ‘With this decision, the 821MHz/852MHz-862MHz (2×10MHz).
Communications Regulatory Commission implements In April this year the CRC adopted the results of the
the provisions of Decision No. 699/04.10.2023 of public consultation held on the draft Position of the CRC
the Council of Ministers and creates prerequisites regarding the prospects and conditions for using the
for the implementation of Reform 2 C7.R2. Effective free resources in the 700MHz and 800MHz frequency
use of radio frequency spectrum from the Recovery bands. At the time it noted that it had received
and Resilience Plan regarding the allocation of radio comments from Yettel Bulgaria, A1 Bulgaria, Vivacom
frequency spectrum in the 700MHz and 800MHz bands.’ and Ericsson Telecommunications Bulgaria. All three
In short, the CRC plans to issue the following bandwidth mobile operators expressed interest in acquiring
at 700MHz: spectrum in the 700MHz and 800MHz bands after
• one license covering frequency bands 703MHz- conducting tests in partnership with the Air Force in
713MHz/758MHz-768MHz (2×10MHz) January and March 2023.
• one license covering frequency bands 713MHz- (October 26, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications the statistic that independent wholesale-based
Commission (CRTC) has issued a decision requiring competitors served 47% fewer subscribers in Ontario
large fixed telecoms network operators in Ontario and and Quebec at the end of 2022 than they did two years
Quebec to provide smaller competitors with access to prior (partly due to several competitors having been
Canada fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks within six months. acquired by larger broadband providers). In issuing its
decision on 6 November the CRTC stated that the six-
The CRTC is setting the interim rates that competitors
will pay when selling services over these networks, and month period will ‘allow companies to prepare their
says that these rates ‘were chosen to allow Canada’s networks, and to develop information technology and
large internet companies to continue investing in their billing systems’. Major telco Bell Canada responded
networks to deliver high-quality services to Canadians,’ negatively to the announcement, however, issuing a
while noting that in Ontario and Quebec ‘competition statement that it plans to cut capital expenditure and
has declined most significantly’, demonstrated by reduce high speed fiber internet expansion due to the

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