Page 150 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

EU Plots Tech Giant Network Consultation

The European Commission (EC) began
preparing to launch a consultation on
whether US tech giants should cover
some of the costs of telecoms networks
in the region, Reuters reported, the
bloc’s latest move to address claims of
an uneven playing field. Internal Market
Commissioner Thierry Breton, reportedly
stated the consultation would open in Q1
2023. In addition to exploring if big names
including Google, Facebook and Amazon
should contribute to operators’ networks,
Breton reportedly stated the consultation
will also cover potential regulation of the
metaverse. The consultation process will
run for up to six months, after which the report noting Meta Platforms, Alphabet, work had begun regarding whether and how
EC will submit any proposals. European Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Netflix now big tech companies should contribute to
operators have long called on US tech account for 56 per cent of traffic on fixed telecoms networks. The EC is introducing
companies to contribute to development and mobile networks, but have made “little the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital
and operation of their networks. Telecoms or no contribution” to development costs. Markets Act (DMA) as part of efforts to rein
industry group ETNO recently published a In May, EC EVP Margrethe Vestager stated in US tech giants.

T-Mobile US Dominates 2.5GHz Auction; Pays USD304m for 7,156 Licenses

Following the conclusion of Auction 108 as IT&E), which operates in Guam and the
on 29 August, the Federal Communications Northern Mariana Islands, followed by
Commission (FCC) has confirmed that Guam-based TeleGuam Holdings, which
T-Mobile US secured the largest number trades as GTA. PTI Pacifica paid a total
of 2.5GHz licenses on offer. The cellco of USD17.690 million, while TeleGuam
paid a total of USD304.325 million for paid USD16.565 million. Auction 108 –
7,156 regional concessions. By contrast, the FCC’s sale of unused spectrum in the
the North American Catholic Educational 2496MHz-2690MHz (2.5GHz band) – drew
Programming Foundation – the next largest to a close after 73 rounds of bidding. In
bidder in terms of the number of spectrum total, the auction process generated gross
permits secured – bid for just 107 licenses. proceeds of USD427.790 million, while 145
In terms of financial commitments, the next of the 8,017 available licenses went unsold.
company in line was PTI Pacifica (trading

Germany Calls for Latest Tranche of Network Projects

Germany’s transport and digital private and public mobile networks with feasibility studies having a maximum
infrastructure authority opened across protocols from 2G through to timespan of eight months. The deadline for
applications for a fresh batch of schemes future standards. The agency added applications is 14 October. Volker Wissing,
to be funded by a €300 million pot set aside joint and individual applications for the Minister for Digital Affairs and Transport,
to develop open network technologies. interoperability of open interfaces would said Germany aimed to support “research
The Bundesministerium fur Digitales und be funded. Cash will be allocated from the into innovative network technologies and
Verkehr (BMDV) plans to fund projects Innovative Network Technologies in Mobile open network architectures in mobile
which aim to develop new products, Communications segment of a wider cash communications”, adding it was “laying
processes or services for either hardware pot, which has already been partly allocated the foundations so that new generations of
or software components of mobile network by the ministry. BMDV noted all projects mobile communications can be introduced
technologies. It covers innovations for must be completed by the end of 2024, more quickly”.
150 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2022