Page 136 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The President Felix Tshisekedi has announced plans identify priority areas. Local news portal Actualite.cd
to directly manage the development of Democratic notes that it remains to be seen how the new powers
Republic of Congo’s (DRC’s) digital economy himself, will interact with the National Digital Council (Conseil
via a new instrument referred to as ‘Presidential Digital National du Numerique, CNN), the creation of which
Congo Coordination’. The president informed the Council of was announced by President Tshisekedi in September
Ministers that due to the importance of the country’s last year to serve a similar function. At the time of
transformation into a digital economy he intends to that announcement, the president stated that the CNN
establish the new system ‘in the coming days’. Through would combine sector regulators as well as government
the new President-led structure, he would collaborate ministers and the Prime Minister, would fall under the
with other government agencies to prepare and define authority of the President and would be responsible for
strategy with regards to the management of information implementing the national digital strategy.
and the development of the digital economy, and would (October 20, 2020) commsupdate.com

The telecom regulator Hakom has launched a public have been harmonized at the European level and the
consultation on the allocation plans for the 800 public consultation is necessary to fully implement
MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz and 2600 MHz the decisions of the European Commission and enable
frequency bands. According to Hakom, the frequency the introduction of 5G in the frequency bands already
Croatia bands currently used for 2G, 3G and 4G technology allocated. (September 20, 2020) telecompaper.com

The telecoms regulator Czech Telecommunication GlobalComms Database, in August this year the
Office (CTU) has announced that it has received CTU launched a tender to award radio frequencies
applications from seven groups seeking to participate in the 700MHz and 3400MHz–3600MHz bands and
in the upcoming auction of 5G spectrum in the 700MHz confirmed its intention to boost competition in a market
Czech and 3400MHz-3600MHz bands. In a press release that has long faced vocal criticism from politicians
dated 1 October 2020, the CTU confirmed that in
and consumers for the high cost of mobile services.
Republic accordance with the Electronic Communications Act Following its public consultation on its proposals, the
and the conditions of the tender, it ‘will not publish regulator highlighted a specific proposed measure to
the names of specific candidates at this stage’. It reserve a comprehensive section of 2×10MHz in the
also noted that, in respect of the legal challenges 700MHz band for new applicants for entry into the
brought by the three incumbents (O2, Vodafone and mobile market. Reuters speculates that Czech groups
T-Mobile), the Prague courts had rejected attempts to Nordic Telecom and Sazka (which operates the Czech
stop the auction. ‘The Office informs that all requests MVNO SAZKAmobil), may be looking to participate –
for the issuance of interim measures filed with the having expressed interest in the past in the auction –
court in order to stop the selection process have while another potential bidder, central Europe’s largest
already been rejected, and none of the operators has listed utility CEZ, has apparently ruled itself out.
succeeded in its application at the Municipal Court in (October 2, 2020) commsupdate.com
Prague,’ it confirmed. According to TeleGeography’s

President Luis Abinader has instructed the Dominican future of our country.’ While details of spectrum and
Telecommunications Institute (Instituto Dominicano licensing have not been disclosed, the regulator’s
de las Telecomunicaciones, INDOTEL) to initiate a 5G website asserts that ‘the implementation of 5G …
tender, as the country seeks to steal a march on its technology is estimated to come into effect in January
Dominican regional rivals. Speaking at a press conference at the 2021.’ Running in parallel, the president issued Decree
539-20, declaring the right to universal access to
Presidential Palace, the head of state commented: ‘We
Republic want to develop a deployment plan for 5G technology broadband technology. This measure is a response
and broadband unprecedented in our history, a level to connectivity challenges faced during the COVID-19
leap towards hyperconnectivity that will change the pandemic. (October 9, 2020) commsupdate.com

136 SEP-OCT 2020