Page 126 - SAMENA Trends - October 2019

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

REGULATORY ACTIVITIES BEYOND

THE SAMENA REGION

The Electronic and Postal Communications Authority (USD8.16 million). Telekom is expected to utilize the
(Autoritetit Te Komunikimeve Elektronike Dhe Postare, new frequencies for expanding and improving 4G
AKEP) has this week awarded the country’s second LTE services currently operating in the 1800MHz and
largest cellco Telekom Albania an 800MHz band mobile 2600MHz bands. In an earlier tender in February 2019
Albania spectrum license, the regulator disclosed on its website. mobile market leader Vodafone Albania claimed the ‘A2’
After launching a license tender in August, AKEP’s 800MHz block (801MHz-811MHz/842MHz-852MHz),
Steering Council approved the award of 2×10MHz of which it added to its existing 1800MHz/2600MHz 4G
spectrum (811MHz-821MHz/852MHz-862MHz) – resources. A third 800MHz block – ‘A1’ (791MHz-
Block ‘A3’ –to Telekom Albania, and the allocation was 801MHz/832MHz-842MHz) – remains unclaimed, with
formally completed on 7 October after the operator Albania’s third-placed cellco ALBtelecom (also an LTE
fulfilled its financial obligations. The starting bid price 1800MHz/2600MHz operator) apparently yet to come
for the 15-year license was set at EUR7.44 million forward with a bid. (October 10, 2019) telegeography.com

Angola’s President Joao Lourenco appointed a new INACOM announced that candidates have until 8
Board of Directors for state-owned fixed line operator November 2019 to submit their initial applications
Angola Telecom, led by Adilson Miguel dos Santos as for pre-qualification. In a second phase, qualified
its new CEO. The move is significant as it reportedly candidates will submit their full technical and financial
Angola marks the conclusion of the telco’s restructuring proposals within 60 days for consideration by the
process, aimed at streamlining the company for Evaluation Committee. Interested parties can access
subsequent privatization. Prior to the appointment of details of the process, submit applications, request
the Board, Angola Telecom was managed by an Interim clarifications and submit proposals on the Public
Management Committee. The government aims to sell Procurement Portal (www.compraspublicas.minfin.
a 45% stake in the telephony and broadband provider, gov.ao). The tender is being steered by an inter-
which holds a ‘unified global’ mobile, fixed, internet and ministerial working group, after Angola’s President Joao
pay-TV license. (October 10, 2019) News Agency ANGOP Lourenco cancelled the award of the fourth license to
local start-up Telstar Telecomunicacoes for procedural
The Angolan government has launched the public non-compliance in April 2019. Lourenco demanded
tender for the assignment of the country’s fourth higher levels of transparency in the relaunched tender.
‘Unified Global’ operator license covering mobile, fixed Current Unified Global licensees are Unitel, Movicel and
line, broadband and TV services. Telecoms regulator Angola Telecom. (October 2, 2019) telegeography.com

The federal government has commenced proceedings future use cases, including streaming ultra-high
to auction 2.4GHz of spectrum in the 26GHz band as definition video, teleworking from regional centers,
part of the national rollout of 5G services. It comes and autonomous vehicles. To evaluate the potential
shortly after Communications Minister Paul Fletcher co-existence between NBN’s Sky Muster satellite
Australia directed the Australian Communications and Media services and 5G mobile broadband services in the 27
Authority (ACMA) to prepare for the reallocation of to 27.5GHz frequency range, the federal government
2.4GHz of millimeter-wave (mmWave) spectrum in commissioned Plum to a produce an independent
the 26GHz band, which includes 25.1GHz to 27GHz. report. The report concluded that the reallocation
“The Morrison government is allocating this spectrum of spectrum in the 26GHz band would have minimal
to support a number of important communications impact on the NBN Sky Muster satellite services.
policy objectives, including the rapid deployment “The study concludes that the risk of interference is
of 5G technologies, the promotion of competitive insignificant and that the mitigating license conditions
market outcomes, and encouraging investment in proposed by ACMA are appropriate,” the report said.
infrastructure across both metropolitan and regional The conclusion matches the same findings by the
Australia,” he said. Fletcher added that when 5G is ACMA that found there is no risk of interference to the
rolled out, it would support a range of current and satellite uplinks from new terrestrial services, despite

126 OCTOBER 2019