Page 128 - SAMENA Trends - October 2019

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Flemish government of incoming Prime Minister to purchase spectrum for a specific demarcated area,
Jan Jambon will priorities the deployment of a such as airports, ports, large business parks and city
regional 5G network, according to the 2019-2024 centers. ‘For that, we want to move away from a 20-
coalition government agreement published at the end year allocation period and to more dynamic, short-
Belgium of September. With preparations for Belgium’s multi- term allocations that also allow spectrum allocation
band frequency auction subject to significant delay for specific events, festivals, sporting events or
as a result of political wrangling, Flanders is keen to other applications,’ the statement continued. In
deploy an ‘area-wide 5G network based on an open order to implement the plan, the government notes
model of infrastructure sharing whereby all service it is ‘negotiating with the federal government for a
providers can offer their service on equal terms’, considerably higher share in the distribution of the
notes the agreement, adding that: ‘To guarantee this one-off and annual revenues from the auction of the
model, the Flemish government needs to participate mobile broadband spectrum. This spectrum auction
substantially in the operators’ initiatives’. Flanders must be separate from the issue of the fourth player.’
envisages earmarking 60MHz of spectrum for regional The Belgian federal government presented plans in
applications, based on a regional licensing model. That mid-2018 for a multi-band auction that was scheduled
60MHz spectrum would be in the 3.5GHz band if there for the end of 2019. However, discussions have been
is no fourth mobile operator or via network slicing. delayed by disagreement over how the anticipated
Otherwise, the spectrum will be allocated in the 3.8GHz EUR680 million (USD745.6 million) raised by the sale
band. The plan would give new players the opportunity would be distributed. (October 4, 2019) telegeography.com

Brazil’s government is ready to send to Congress In a widely expected move – and one that could
three new bills to foster the development of the benefit struggling operator Oi SA – Brazil’s President
country’s telecommunications industry, including Bolsonaro has signed a new law aiming to modernize
rules on deployment of antennae and data centers, the country’s telecommunications sector. According
Brazil ahead of a long-awaited auction for fifth-generation to Reuters, the law lifts restrictions on sales by fixed
frequencies, an official said on Tuesday. “They are line and cellular telecommunications companies of
practically ready, but first we wanted to get the new their formerly state-owned assets. It will also allow for
regulatory framework approved by Congress,” said a secondary market for trading cellphone frequencies.
Julio Semeghini, executive secretary at the Ministry of Fixed-line concession holders will now be allowed
Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications. to migrate their licenses to a private regime in which
He spoke during a telecoms event in Sao Paulo, they can more freely allocate investments to expand
referring to a bill known as PLC 79, which is expected broadband services. In addition, satellite companies
to unleash a wave of asset sales and benefit the entire will be able to apply directly for frequencies, rather
industry. Semeghini said the modernization of Brazil’s than through auctions. Brazil’s regulatory restrictions
telecoms law is likely to boost investment in the sector on Brazil’s telecommunications sector have, it seems,
and is essential for the deployment of 5G broadband been eased at a stroke: certainly there were no last-
service. “Some carriers will more than double their minute changes in Congress or vetoes by the president.
investments in the next few years,” he said. Regulatory However, the law took five years to clear Congress.
agency Anatel had planned to carry out a spectrum The law has been widely welcomed by analysts and
auction for 5G in March 2020 but is now likely to commentators and, one assumes, service providers, not
postpone it, as analysis on potential interference with just because it makes it easier for them to do business
other services is still ongoing. “It will be next year, but I but because it is expected to free up resources for the
don’t want to talk about dates as Anatel is still looking expansion of internet access for Brazilian end users.
at all the specifications,” the secretary said. Semeghini A less heavily regulated telecommunications sector
added that the government is also engaged in putting may also be a boost for beleaguered operator Oi. Oi
together a regulatory framework for startups. He said has been in discussions with a number of major names
there are 12,000 startups in Brazil, including eight new in the telecommunications world, including Telefonica,
companies valued at more than $1 billion, creating Telecom Italia Group, AT&T and China Mobile, about
more than 30,000 jobs. (October 29, 2019) reuters.com the planned sale of its mobile unit, which could give it
enough cash reserves to avoid insolvency.
(October 7, 2019) developingtelecoms.com

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