Page 173 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Superintendence of Telecommunications has applied for just five blocks, with a focus on larger
(Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones, SIT) spectrum allocations. In total 120MHz of spectrum
has confirmed that plans are underway to auction will be distributed, with SIT boss Marco Antonio Baten
unused frequencies in the 2.5GHz-2.6GHz range, after Ruiz optimistic that the process will generate between
Guatemala receiving a number of requests from local mobile USD30 million and USD50 million. The process could
operators Claro and Tigo. Indeed, Comunicaciones
take between four and six months to complete, Mr.
Celulares (as Claro is legally known) has applied for Ruiz warned. Going forward, the reorganization of the
34 of the available 48 regional spectrum blocks. In 700MHz band is said to be in its ‘final stages’, he added.
contrast, Telecomunicaciones de Guatemala (Tigo) (September 8, 2022) www.commsupdate.com

5G newcomer Adani Data Networks – part of Indian rollout is understood to be awaiting the completion of
conglomerate Adani Enterprises – has been issued a its various fundraising initiatives and negotiations with
full Unified License, enabling it to provide any kind of vendors and infrastructure operators. Whilst Vi was not
telecom service, the Financial Express reports. Adani forthcoming regarding a timeline for its 5G launch, the
India has repeatedly stated, however, that it has no intention cellco noted that it has developed a diverse range of
India-specific use cases for the technology whilst it has
of entering the retail telecom or consumer mobile
sectors and is expected to utilize the authorization to also partnered with smartphone manufacturers – such
simplify its operations and limit dependence on third as Samsung, Oppo and Vivo – to drive 5G ecosystem
parties. Adani Data Networks secured licenses for development. Vi’s 5G demonstrations included a 5G
26GHz frequencies in six circles – Andhra Pradesh, SmartAgri solution that it says combines IoT, sensors,
Gujarat, Karnataka, Mumbai, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies
– via the mass spectrum auction held earlier this year. to deliver localized advice to small farms. Telecom
The company plans to use the spectrum to provide Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was quoted by the Economic
private network solutions and enhanced cyber security Times as saying that state-owned operator Bharat
for airports, ports and logistics, power generation, Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) was working towards
transmission, distribution, and various manufacturing the deployment of 5G in 200 cities within the next six
operations. months, with services to be launched as early as August
(October 12, 2022) www.commsupdate.com 2023. According to the official, BSNL is targeting 80% to
90% coverage within two years. Separately, the minister
India’s first 5G services were launched by Prime disclosed that the government is planning to establish
Minister Narendra Modi at the India Mobile Congress 100 5G labs across the country.
(IMC) event over the weekend, which also featured a (October 3, 2022) www.commsupdate.com
raft of announcements and technology demonstrations
from the country’s vendors and service providers. Bharti The Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw
Airtel was the first operator to launch 5G services on said that the new telecom bill is expected to be in
a commercial basis, with the telco switching on its place in 6-10 months. However, he emphasized that
5G network in eight cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi, the government is not in a hurry. "Basis consultation
Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Nagpur and Siliguri. process, we will create final draft. That draft will then
In a speech at the conference, Airtel Chairman Sunil go through committee processes of Parliament. Then
Mittal added that 5G would be extended to most it has to go (to) Parliament. I see a timeline of 6-10
cities by March 2023 and would be available across months but we are not in a hurry," Vaishnaw was quoted
the country by March 2024. The conference also saw as saying by news agency PTI. He said then when asked
Airtel demonstrate a virtual reality (VR) advertisement to comment about a timeline for implementation of the
powered by 5G, as well as a VR and augmented reality final bill. The Department of Telecommunications has
(AR) education experience. Reliance Jio Infocomm set the deadline of October 20 on the draft bill. The bill
(Jio), meanwhile, stuck to its plans to inaugurate its seeks to replace three laws: the Indian Telegraph Act,
5G services by Diwali (22 October), with the operator 1885, the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933 and
set to launch its own-branded 5G phone around the the Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1950.
same time. Jio’s 5G service will initially be available However, with a view to ensuring smooth transition to
in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai but will be the new framework and avoid any possible disruption,
extended nationwide by December 2023. For its part, the bill provides for continuity of actions taken under
cash-strapped cellco Vodafone Idea (Vi) offered little the repealed laws.
new information on its 5G deployment. The operator’s (September 24, 2022) www.zeebiz.com

173 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2022