Page 137 - SAMENA Trends - October 2019

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

affiliation of telephone numbers. With the Nkom having services. Now, the regulator is seeking feedback on
reportedly looked at various possibilities for changes these plans – specifically from telecoms service
to the country’s numbering plans with local telecoms providers, emergency service agencies and consumer
operators, it said several suggestions had been for the authorities – by a deadline of 22 November 2019.
existing geographical number series to be combined (October 16, 2019) telegeography.com
into a common number series for fixed telephone

The National Public Services Authority (ASEP) signed Panama (Movistar), Cable & Wireless Panama and
Resolution AN No. 15710-Telco earlier this month, Claro Panama, as well as Millicom-backed ISP Cable
confirming its intention to distribute spectrum in Onda. Going forward, the watchdog seeks to clear the
the 1427MHz-1518MHz ‘L-band’ range for mobile band within 24 months, although Digicel and Movistar
Panama use within the next two years. The move follows a have pushed for a briskier timeframe. While ASEP has
consultation on the country’s National Frequency
stopped short of recommending the band for 5G use. A
Attribution Plan (Plan Nacional de Atribucion de number of countries have earmarked the 1.5GHz band
Frecuencias, PNAF), which received feedback from for fifth-generation mobile services, including the likes
mobile incumbents Digicel Panama, Telefonica Moviles of France. (October 22, 2019) telegeography.com

The Private Investment Promotion Agency USD291 million in revenues. MTC is also considering
(ProInversion) has confirmed that the planned using the 3.5GHz band for 5G use, having staged a
auction of 1750MHz-1780MHz/2150MHz-2180MHz consultation on its plans this summer. That band was
(AWS-3) and 2300MHz-2330MHz spectrum will take utilized to stage the country’s first 5G trial – staged
place in the second quarter of 2020. The nationwide by Entel and Huawei – in March this year, in San
Peru concessions will be valid for a 20-year period and Isidro. In May 2019 Claro staged its own 5G trial, also
support the deployment of 4G and 5G technology. The with Huawei, using a temporary allocation of 3.6GHz
Ministry of Transport and Communications (Ministerio spectrum; the test yielded download speeds of 3Gbps.
de Transportes y Comunicaciones, MTC) approved Most recently, September 2019 saw Movistar join
the spectrum auction in March this year and the forces with Ericsson to test 5G technology in Trujillo.
government expects the process to generate around (October 11, 2019) telegeography.com

Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero has proposed House of at least PHP1 million for every day a telco continues
Bill 4886 which is designed to give Philippines to breach requisite terms and conditions. Further, the
industry watchdog the National Telecommunications amendment would allow the watchdog to order telcos
Commission (NTC) more ‘enforcement teeth’ by to refund customers. ‘The current framework is also
Philippines updating the 24-year-old Republic Act 7925 (the Public inadequate mainly because it is based on a 20th-
Telecommunications Policy Act) where it comes to
century orientation being applied to 21st-century
dealing with penalties and sanctions. The proposed situations. Urgent needs are also unaddressed, such
House Bill seeks ‘to improve compliance among public as much better competition, consumer protection and
telecommunication entities and expand the NTC’s industry regulation,’ he pointed out, before adding that
control and capability as a regulator’. In a brief, Romero a review of the government’s spectrum policy is also in
confirmed: ‘My bill amends RA 7925 with a whole set of order: ‘We have only three major telecom players and
law-enforcement teeth because the 1995 law does not dozens of bit players. We have a number of unused
have penalty provisions and no means to hold erring spectrum frequencies. The spectrum policy has been
entities and people liable for wrongdoing and not doing described by some experts as ‘a mess.’ ’The country
when they should have acted decisively.’ Per the official, has thousands of telecom dead spots nationwide,’
the new measures give the NTC the power to levy a fine Romero said. (October 10, 2019) Business Mirror

137 OCTOBER 2019