Page 110 - SAMENA Trends - October 2019

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Russia Completes Digital Broadcasting Transition

Russia has completed its switchover of network, owned by Russian Television for mobile broadband services including
national TV channels to digital terrestrial & Radio Broadcasting Network (RTRS), 5G. However, around 20% of frequency
television (DTT), with the last-phase completed its network-wide upgrade from assignments for digital TV channel
switch-off of federal analogue TV channels DVB-T to DVB-T2 in 2012-2015, and the all- packages (multiplexes) will reportedly
in 21 regions occurring on 14 October, DVB-T2 network reached its 98.4% federal remain in the 694MHz-790MHz range,
completing a schedule begun in December footprint in 2018 (while the remaining 1.6% and Russia’s communications ministry
2018, reports Broadband TV News. DTT of the population can receive the current 20 is yet to confirm plans for 5G 700MHz
services cover 98.4% of the population. ‘must-carry’ national channels via satellite licensing. Contrastingly, in the 800MHz
Note that Russian regional analogue TV TV). DVB-T2 enables DTT transmission to band (791MHz-862MHz) Russian mobile
broadcasters have been permitted to occupy frequencies within the 470MHz- operators were issued federal 4G licenses
continue operating. TeleGeography says 694MHz band, theoretically freeing up back in 2012.
that Russia’s national DTT broadcasting the 700MHz (694MHz-790MHz) band

India Eases Stance on Spectrum Fees

Indian authorities showed willingness to compromise on the price which runs to end-March 2020, with precise details on the timing
of spectrum ahead of the country’s first auction in three years, to be announced soon, ET reported. The auction will be India’s first
addressing a major complaint of cash-strapped operators in the since October 2016 and was originally scheduled to take place
country, The Economic Times (ET) reported. Speaking at the India by the end of the current calendar year. Government proposals
Mobile Congress, communications and IT minister Ravi Shankar could see up to 3,000MHz of spectrum offered across eight
explained the government is aware of operators’ concerns that bands, two of which would be for 5G. In August, ET reported the
the cost of spectrum is too high, but noted a procedural review review would likely cause the timeline to slip into early calendar
around fees and the amount to be sold is ongoing. He said an 2020. Shankar’s comments came as Bharti Enterprises vice-
auction would take place by the close of the current financial year, chairman Rakesh Bharti Mittal levelled further criticism on the
government’s pricing during the same industry event. LiveMint
reported the executive also highlighted planning permission for
new mobile sites as an ongoing issue, urging regional authorities
to streamline the process for 5G services in particular. Operators
are not alone in calling for India’s government to take action over
the high cost of spectrum: in August the Confederation of Indian
Industry reportedly warned a high reserve price on 5G bands
would put further pressure on operators’ earnings and slow
the overall growth of the sector. A fierce price war in India has
strained operators’ earnings potential since Reliance Jio entered
the market in 2016, resulting in a wave of consolidation and exits.
The Telecoms Regulatory Authority of India recently released
figures showing ARPU had begun to rebound, growing 6.43 per
cent year-on-year to INR74.30 ($1.04) at end-June.

Vietnam and Cameroon Officials Set to Meet to Resolve Nexttel Dispute

Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister, dispute involves the cellco’s shareholders, the purchase of telecoms hardware, and
Vuong Dinh Hue, is set to meet with the Vietnamese military-owned Viettel Group technology transfers. In May this year
government of Cameroon next month to (70%) and local company Bestinver the government launched an inquiry to
resolve a dispute between the shareholders Cameroon (Bestcam, 30%), which have investigate the dispute and has proposed
of mobile operator Viettel Cameroon, disagreed on issues such as signatures a number of resolutions to end it, including
which operates under the brand name for financial transactions, the recruitment reinstating Vietnamese employees at
Nexttel. Financial Afrik reports that the of staff, engagement of foreign partners, Nexttel.

110 OCTOBER 2019