Page 129 - SAMENA Trends - October 2019

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Department of Telecommunications (Subtel) has Services’ concessions for businesses. The consultation
launched a tender for a ‘National Fiber-Optic (FON)’ is targeting the mining, port, agricultural, industrial
project aiming to deploy 10,000km of fiber infrastructure and transport sectors, and seeks feedback regarding
across the country. The government has allocated the technical, legal, administrative and economic
Chile a subsidy of CLP86 billion (USD120 million) for the elements of a potential tender. Also under discussion
program, which will see the allocation of contracts are potential 5G bands, with 1700MHz/2100MHz,
in six subdivisions: Arica and Parinacota Macrozone 3.5GHz and 28GHz bands all under consideration by
(Arica and Parinacota regions); Northern Macrozone the regulator. The consultation opened on 9 October
(Antofagasta and Atacama regions); Central Northern and will run until 23 October. The Chilean watchdog
Macrozone (Coquimbo, Valparaiso and Metropolitan previously staged a 5G consultation in May this year,
regions); Central Macrozone (O’Higgins and Maule earmarking the following spectrum for auction: 20MHz
regions); Central Southern Macrozone (Nuble and in the 700MHz range; 30MHz in the 1700MHz (AWS)
Biobio regions); and Southern Macrozone (Araucania, band; 50MHz in the 3.5GHz range; and 850MHz in the
Los Rios and Los Lagos regions). Interested parties 28GHz range. To date, Chilean 5G testing has focused
are given 60 working days to submit their bids (until on the use of millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum,
7 January 2020), with the winners scheduled to be with Claro and Entel both staging trials in recent years.
announced by March 2020. (October 15, 2019) telegeography.com Entel’s most recent 5G trial took place in June this year,
using a six-month trial license (issued in February
The Department of Telecommunications (Subsecretaria 2019) incorporating the 28GHz band. The test was
de Telecomunicaciones, Subtel) has unveiled a new carried out in conjunction with Ericsson and Qualcomm
5G consultation, as it seeks to gauge interest in the and saw the telco assist with the performance of a
potential distribution of ‘Limited Telecommunications remote ultrasound scan. (October 11, 2019) telegeography.com

After more than a decade under consideration, mobile of the country’s provinces – including autonomous
number portability (MNP) will be made available regions under government control – will introduce
across China from 30 November. As per the report, portability on a rolling basis between 10 November and
pilot projects took place in the provinces of Tianjin, 25 November, and the government hopes to confirm
China Hainan, Jiangxi, Hubei and Yunnan in September, nationwide availability by the end of that month.
and MNP is now live in each location. The remainder (October 18, 2019) CCTV

The Ministry of Information Technologies and blocks and one 2×5MHz portion; plus a 2×2.5MHz
Communications (MinTIC) has published its final 1900MHz band allocation and eight 10MHz blocks in
resolution on the long-delayed auction of mobile the 2500MHz band. New spectrum is expected to be
spectrum in the 700MHz, 1900MHz and 2500MHz utilized initially for 4G services (augmenting existing
Colombia bands, setting a date of 12 December 2019 for the 1700MHz/2100MHz [AWS] and 2600MHz-based LTE
license bidding. MinTIC has invited potential bidders to networks) while the 700MHz band has also been
study the requirements and conditions for participating earmarked for 5G rollout. Licenses will be issued
in the auction process, which it said will help reduce for 20 years, compared to existing ten-year cellular
the digital divide in communities nationwide, especially concessions, with no minimum bid price but with key
in rural and remote areas currently lacking mobile assessment criteria focusing on applicants’ technical
broadband connectivity. Up for grabs in the tender is proposals, rollout schedule and investment plans.
2×45MHz of 700MHz spectrum (703MHz-748MHz (October 15, 2019) telegeography.com
paired with 758MHz-803MHz) split into four 2×10MHz

Following a public consultation on the draft terms and a bid to bolster competition in the Czech market where
conditions of the auction of 5G network frequencies high prices have long been criticized by politicians
in the 700MHz and 3400MHz–3600MHz (3.5GHz) and end users alike. In communique Ref. No: CTU-42
bands, the Czech Telecommunication Office (CTU) 109/2019-613 dated 15 October, the CTU issued the
Czech has revised its framework dates for conducting the following timetable:
• Call for tenders (publication of documentation):
selection process, with the call for tenders postponed
Republic from autumn 2019 until the beginning of January 2020. beginning of January 2020
The watchdog is seeking to allocate the frequencies in • Application for tender: mid-February 2020

129 OCTOBER 2019