Page 132 - SAMENA Trends - October 2019

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

the Federal Network Agency will soon publish the The Federal Network Agency (FNA, known locally
necessary procedure for providing big German as the Bundesnetzagentur or BNetzA) has annulled
companies with 5G masts. He added that the project a charge that Vodafone Germany imposed on other
is being coordinated between the departments. Such wireless operators for the porting of customers’ mobile
a move by the financial authority in Germany would phone numbers. After comparing the price with other
induce significant challenges in a market that has been European nations, the regulator has now set the fee at
repeatedly criticized by operators for the higher price of a maximum of EUR3.58 (USD3.90), which will apply for
the 5G spectrum and the lengthy process of the auction all of Germany’s mobile operators.
of suitable frequencies which was concluded in June. (October 1, 2019) telegeography.com
(October 4, 2019) mobileworldlive.com

Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Communications, Vincent The Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu Ekuful,
Sowah Odotei, has revealed the government is has announced that all mobile phone SIM cards will be
working with mobile network operators to ensure 95% deactivated unless re-registered between 1 January
of the country’s population has access to internet and 30 June 2020. Subscribers will need to present
Ghana connectivity by the end of 2020. Mr. Sowah Odotei said a national biometric identity card, such as a driver’s
the Ministry’s Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic
license, passport or Ghana Card, as part of a program
Communications (GIFEC) has built about a thousand conducted by the National Communications Agency
communication towers in very remote areas as part of (NCA) with the cooperation of telecom companies. The
efforts to achieve the target. GIFEC agreed an 18-month Minister told a press briefing that the measure will help
partnership with the GSMA and Vodafone Ghana in July law enforcement agencies identify SIM card owners,
to deploy mobile internet solutions in unconnected track criminals, curb incidents such as phone theft,
rural communities as part of the Connected Society hate text messages, mobile fraud activities, incitement
Innovation Fund for Rural Connectivity. to violence and other crimes.
(October 30, 2019) Ghanaweb (October 15, 2019) Ghanaweb

The Greek government has made an announcement band in 2020. The government says that broadcasters
regarding the process for freeing the 700MHz band for must have switched to new bands by 1 January 2022,
5G mobile services. A joint press release by the Ministry although under a new amendment, in a few isolated
of Digital Governance and the Prime Minister’s office cases standard transmissions will still be allowed in
Greece says that frequencies in the 700MHz range currently areas ‘where there is no technically feasible way to
transmit a high resolution signal’.
used by TV broadcasters will be awarded to cellcos
in 2021. This will follow a 5G auction in the 3.5GHz (October 25, 2019) telegeography.com

China Mobile Hong Kong (CMHK) and HKT have both Hong Kong’s auction of 5G-capable spectrum in the
acquired 40MHz of 5G spectrum in the 4.9GHz band 4.9GHz (4.84GHz-4.92GHz) band has attracted just two
for the reserve price of HKD120 million (USD15.3 bidders. The Office of the Communications Authority
million) each. Spectrum will be assigned in December (OFCA) says that all four incumbents submitted initial
Hong Kong and licenses will be valid for 15 years. Last week the applications, but Hutchison 3 and SmarTone have
four incumbent cellcos – HKT, CMHK, Hutchison 3
withdrawn since winning 3.5GHz licenses earlier this
and SmarTone – paid a combined HKD1.006 billion week. That leaves China Mobile Hong Kong (CMHK) and
for 5G-capable 3.5GHz licenses. Hutchison and HKT in the running for the 4.9GHz frequencies, adding
SmarTone opted not to take part in the 4.9GHz sale. In to the 3.5GHz spectrum that they too won this week.
a statement HKT said: ‘The 4.9GHz band spectrum is Mainland China is also using the 4.9GHz waveband,
strategically important as it will raise the overall speed with CMHK’s parent company China Mobile having
and capacity of HKT’s 5G service. In addition, we can already been issued with spectrum in that range.
deploy the spectrum to enhance our coverage in the CMHK is obviously keen to win similar frequencies in
two highly populated “restriction zones” in Hong Kong Hong Kong to allow for roaming, which is an important
South and New Territories East, where the presence part of the business for Hong Kong cellcos.
of satellite stations could cause interference with the (October 17, 2019) telegeography.com
3.5GHz band.’ (October 24, 2019) telegeography.com

132 OCTOBER 2019