Page 178 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

launch commercial 5G services within twelve months after each paying USD273.6 million for one lot of
of the effective date of the license, and coverage should 100MHz TDD spectrum. Following the conclusion of
reach at least two states in each of the country’s six the assignment stage, MTN selected spectrum in the
geo-political zones within two years. MTN Nigeria and 3500MHz-3600MHz band for an additional USD15.9
newcomer Mfab Communications emerged as the million, and the second lot (3700MHz-3800MHz) was
winners of last December’s 3.5GHz spectrum auction, assigned to Mafab. (October 24, 2022) www.commsupdate.com

The National Communications Authority (Nasjonal too many who fall outside the digital community. It is
kommunikasjonsmyndighet, Nkom) has announced an important national task to get everyone involved, and
that 93.6% of the population now have access to both the industry and the authorities must take a step
broadband at speeds of 100Mbps or more, up from forward in the next few years.’
Norway 90.4% a year earlier. With the regulator publishing a (September 30, 2022) www.commsupdate.com
data update showing the development of broadband
coverage in the country, among the other highlights The regulator Nkom flagged plans to allocate
was the fact that the availability of gigabit speeds had frequencies in the 26GHz and 1500MHz bands for 5G
also increased, reaching 92.5% of the population at services in 2023, although it noted that the timing of
mid-2022, compared to 86.5% a year earlier. Of further the award will depend on a number of factors. John-
note, Nkom reported that as of 30 June 2022 45.6% Eivind Velure, a director in the spectrum management
of the population had access to downlink speeds of department at Nkom, indicated there was sufficient
100Mbps or more via the 5G infrastructure rolled out demand for the bands from several companies. Nkom
by one of the nation’s mobile operators, while access plans to publish a more detailed timetable later this
to speeds of at least 30Mbps via 5G stood at 65.7%. year, once it has worked out how the allocations will
What the watchdog referred to as ‘basic’ 5G coverage be organized and whether or not certain coverage
was, meanwhile, up significantly year-on-year, reaching obligations should be attached to licenses. The two
81.5% at mid-2022, compared to 23.3% a year earlier. bands were among a total of five under consideration
Despite the improvements in access to faster speeds, for 5G in Norway. Velure noted there has been little
efforts will reportedly continue with a view to achieving interest to date in the 738MHz to 758MHz and 40.5GHz
the government’s stated aim of having 100Mbps to 43.5GHz bands, while further assessments are
downlink speeds available to all Norwegians by 2025. required for 2.3GHz. Norway allocated frequencies for
To that end, Nkom director Pal Wien Espen was cited 5G in the 703MHZ to 733MHz and 758MHz to 788MHz
as saying: ‘It is gratifying that more households have bands in 2019, and the 3.6GHz band in 2021.
access to satisfactory broadband, but there are still (September 5, 2022) www.mobileworldlive.com

The President has signed the Subscriber Identity Mobile mandatory SIM registration was ratified by the House
(SIM) Card Registration Act into law, according to the of Representatives and the Senate in February 2022
Office of the Press Secretary. The new law requires all but was vetoed by then-President Rodrigo Duterte
public telecommunications entities (PTEs) to register all in April. According to the President’s spokesperson,
Philippines SIM cards with a valid photo ID as a prerequisite to their the President ‘wanted to ensure that new laws are
consistent with constitutional provisions guaranteeing
sale and activation. It also directs telcos to disclose
the information contained in the SIM card registration, individual privacy and free speech.’
should a court ask for it. Previously, the introduction of (October 11, 2022) www.commsupdate.com

Polish mobile network operator (MNO) Polkomtel, on the price of 1800MHz spectrum acquired by rivals
which trades under the Plus brand, has been told it Play (P4) and T-Mobile in 2013, adjusted for inflation.
must pay PLN847 million (USD174 million) to renew its Plus holds the most spectrum of any Polish MNO, both
spectrum licenses in the 1800MHz band for a further in the 1800MHz band (39.8% of the total available)
Poland 15 years. The renewal covers three separate licenses, and across all bands combined (36.4% of the total
which expire at the end of this year and together include available). (October 24, 2022) telko.in
2×19.8MHz of paired frequencies. The operator uses
the spectrum for 2G and 4G services. According to a Polish telecommunications regulator UKE has prepared
report, the Office of Electronic Communications (Urzad a draft decision on the cost renewing licenses for the
Komunikacji Elektronicznej, UKE) based the renewal fee 2,100 MHz spectrum, reports Telko.in. According to the

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