Page 172 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

temporary period following the spectrum auction in outlines initial assessments of the further allocation
2019. The company has now been set deadlines to give procedure: due to the scarcity of frequencies, the FNA
up this dual role.’ (October 24, 2022) www.commsupdate.com prefers an award process, specifically an auction, but
for the 800MHz band, it proposes a ‘frequency swap’,
The Federal Network Agency (FNA) has published whereby the existing usage rights would expire at the
for public consultation a position paper on the future end of 2033, rather than 2025, while the usage rights
allocation of certain mobile radio frequencies, with for the 900MHz band would expire at the end of 2025
the aim of balancing the interests of established rather than 2033 and would then be assigned at the
mobile operators with those of potential new market earlier date. The regulator states that this move would
entrants. At the end of 2025 the allocations for the secure the existing LTE coverage based on 800MHz
usage rights for spectrum in 800MHz, 1800MHz and frequencies in the longer term, but would also enable
2600MHz bands will expire, and the regulator is aiming newcomers to obtain spectrum in the range below
to give all market participants investment and planning 1GHz. Interested parties have until 21 November 2021
security at an early stage as to how the frequencies to submit comments on the position paper.
will be made available again. The FNA’s position paper (September 26, 2022) www.commsupdate.com

The Minister of Communications and Digitalization, encourage mobile subscribers to complete the SIM
Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, announced that all unregistered registration campaign that began last November.
SIM cards will be blocked progressively from the end Since 5 September, all four MNOs – AirtelTigo, Glo
of October. According to the Ministry, the decision to Mobile, MTN and Vodafone – are required to block
Ghana delay account deactivations following the conclusion outgoing calls and data services for a sequential batch
of the re-registration exercise on 30 September is not
of unregistered and partially registered numbers for
an extension to the deadline, but rather a ‘temporary 48 hours every week on rotational basis. In addition,
moratorium’ to encourage customers to complete subscribers who have not begun their registration will
the process. In a statement, Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful said hear an automated campaign awareness message
it was ‘disconcerting’ that almost ten million people before their outgoing calls are connected. According to
had linked a SIM to their Ghana Card (stage one of the the directive, all mobile and data-only SIM cards which
registration) but not completed the process by verifying remain unregistered or partially registered after 30
their biometric data. ‘There is no excuse for this since September will be completely blocked and the holders
these individuals have their Ghana Cards, have started will lose all services. However, these customers will then
the process, and had ample opportunity to fully register have another six months to complete the registration
their SIM Cards, including through the use of the self- process, following which the numbers will be churned.
registration app which is the first of its kind in the world,’ Meanwhile, the telcos have been asked to configure
the statement added. According to data released by the their networks to allow Ghanaians living abroad to
Ministry, approximately 28.96 million SIM cards had register their SIM cards using their passports instead
been linked to Ghana Cards as of 4 October, equivalent of the Ghana Card until 31 December 2022, when they
to 67.3% of the 42.75 million SIMs issued nationally. will also be required to regularize their registrations with
Only 18.93 million (44.3% of total issued) had been fully the new ID card or suffer punitive measures. Customers
registered by the same date, however. who have completed stage one (linking their Ghana
(October 18, 2022) www.commsupdate.com Card with their SIM) are encouraged to finalize the
process by providing the necessary biometric data
The National Communications Authority (NCA) has using the NCA’s new self-registration app.
announced a set of punitive measures designed to (September 6, 2022) www.commsupdate.com

The National Telecommunications & Post Commission (October 18, 2022) www.commsupdate.com
(Ethniki Epitropi Tilepikoinonion kai Tachydromeion,
EETT) has launched the process to select a new The National Telecommunications & Post Commission
universal service provider. A consultation last month (Ethniki Epitropi Tilepikoinonion kai Tachydromeion,
Greece brought responses from just two firms, Nova and Wind, EETT) has opened a consultation process on the draft
notice for the selection of a universal service provider.
both of which are subsidiaries of United Group and are
due to be merged to create a fully converged operation. Admissions will be accepted until 11 October. In
Nova was chosen as universal service provider in 2016 September 2016 Forthnet (now Nova) won a tender
and uses satellite technology to offer fixed voice and to provide universal services from 1 January 2017.
broadband services to 100% of the territory of Greece (September 13, 2022) www.commsupdate.com
for an annual payment by the state.
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