Page 121 - SAMENA Trends - Oct-Nov 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) has been set aside for trunking services, while the 824MHz-
included spectrum in the 400MHz and 800MHz bands 849MHz/869MHz-894MHz band is designated for
in its Annual Program for the Use and Exploitation of use by mobile communication services (‘social use’).
Frequency Bands 2024 (Programa Anual de Uso y The inclusion of the aforementioned spectrum bands
Mexico Aprovechamiento de Bandas de Frecuencias 2024, in PABF 2024 reflects requests that the IFT received
PABF 2024). The 415MHz-420MHz/425MHz-430MHz
between 1 November 2022 and 30 June 2023.
and 806MHz-814MHz/851MHz-859MHz bands have (November 20, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

The National Institute of Communications (INCM) has connect around 300 educational establishments across
launched its ‘Internet in Schools’ project as part of a the country. Starlink was launched for private customers
public-private partnership with the SpaceX satellite in Mozambique in June this year.
broadband service Starlink. The scheme aims to (October 31, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
Mozambique

The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia use the assigned frequencies to provide 4G and 5G mo-
(CRAN) has awarded 5G licenses to mobile network bile services with a downlink data speed of no less than
operators Telecom Namibia (TN) and Mobile Tele- 20Mbps and in compliance with quality of service (QoS)
communications Company (MTC), and local ISP Loc8 regulations. The rollout obligations also require them to
Namibia Mobile following the regulator’s auction of 700MHz improve 4G population coverage to 80% or higher in six
and 800MHz spectrum last week, which generated ap-
regions, namely Kunene and Zambezi (Lot A), Otjozond-
proximately NAD28.6 million (USD1.47 million). Loc8 jupa and Omaheke (Lot B), Hardap and Kavango West
Mobile paid NAD5.1 million to secure Lot A (2×20MHz, (Lot C). Emilia Nghikembua, CEO of CRAN, explained
703MHz-723MHz/758MHz-778MHz, reserve price in a statement that the award of the 4G/5G spectrum
NAD4.4 million), TN won Lot B with a bid of NAD15.4 mil- licenses is intended to enable the rollout of emerging
lion (two blocks of 2×10MHz, 723MHz-733MHz/778M- mobile technologies while supporting both universal ac-
Hz-788MHz and 791MHz-801MHz/832MHz-842MHz, cess in rural areas and digital inclusion. She further stat-
NAD5.1 million), while TN paid NAD15.4 million for ed that the regulator has approved the testing/trial of
Lot C (2×20MHz, 801MHz-821MHz/842MHz-862MHz, 5G services/networks for a period of three months until
NAD6.5 million). The permits are valid for ten years and 31 December. MTC has already expressed its readiness
can be renewed for a similar period. The licensees must to deploy 5G services. (October 3, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

The National Inspectorate for Digital Infrastructure take into account the obligation of mutual cooperation.’
(RDI) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs & Two 50MHz blocks of 3500MHz band spectrum are
Climate Policy (MEACP) has announced that 3.5GHz available for local wireless applications of companies
spectrum licenses will be available for local, private and organizations, separate from the 300MHz tranche
The 5G networks from 1 December 2023, aimed at of 3.5GHz airwaves earmarked for the Netherlands’
5G nationwide mobile spectrum auction, which the
enterprise users such as industrial sites and other
Netherlands businesses with their own private communications government hopes to launch in Q1 2024 having recently
network. Localized 5G networks – unconnected to reached an in-principle agreement to relocate satellite
public mobile infrastructure – will be utilized for secure services occupying the band, while court hearings on
communications and business processes and a variety appeals against the 5G licensing policy began last
of on-premises applications via the private owners’ month. In April 2023 Schiphol Airport and the Port of
licensed frequencies, with examples given by RDI such Rotterdam filed lawsuits against the MEACP’s 3.5GHz
as controlling smart, complex devices including factory policy, arguing that the first-come, first-served method
robots and autonomous vehicles or virtual reality-based of distributing local/private 5G spectrum could prevent
facilities. Licenses will be valid until 31 December 2040. them from securing their required bandwidth, while the
RDI’s announcement notes that under the government’s Port also claimed the frequencies reserved for parties
licensing strategy: ‘Companies are assisted with their other than mobile operators were of lower quality,
license applications on a first-come, first-served basis, potentially disrupting its development of 5G applications
but new applicants have the same rights to frequency e.g. autonomous shipping and data processing via IoT
use as their neighbors, who may already have a license.’ sensors in the port.
RDI adds that this means ‘companies with a permit must (November 10, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
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