Page 149 - SAMENA Trends - September 2019

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Steinmaurer explained. It’s almost as if the regulator’s divided into two phases: the first will see frequencies
main priority is ensuring decent 5G coverage, rather in the 700MHz (six blocks) and 2100MHz (twelve
than securing a giant windfall for the government. blocks) bands allocated, with eight blocks of 1500MHz
Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see what the spectrum set to be awarded in the second stage.
operators make of the proposals. “Once the tender Following this, a ‘bonus system’ has been developed
conditions have been approved by the Federal Minister whereby operators will be able to gain a reduction in
of Transport, Innovation and Technology, the start of the spectrum price if they agree to cover additional
the second 5G auction is scheduled for spring 2020; at underserved areas. In terms of coverage obligations,
the end of the second quarter of 2020, the frequency 700MHz license winners will be obliged to supply 900
allocation procedure will be completed,” Steinmaurer underserved communities with speeds of 30Mbps
said. (September 24, 2019) telecomtv.com download and 3Mbps upload. Furthermore, 98% of
motorways and selected railway lines, as well as 90%
The Regulatory Authority for Broadcasting and of federal and state roads, are to be supplied with at
Telecoms (RTR) has launched a public consultation least 10Mbps download and 1Mbps upload rates.
on the conditions for its planned ‘second 5G auction’. Interested parties have been given until 21 October
The regulator is looking to award 20-year licenses 2019 to submit comments on the proposed auction
for spectrum in the 700MHz, 1500MHz and 2100MHz conditions. (September 24, 2019) telegeography.com
frequency bands in spring 2020. The auction will be

The Brazilian Senate’s Science and Technology stage before drifting back down again on Sao Paulo’s
Committee has approved a bill that will modernize stock market, while Telefonica Brasil SA gained 1.1%.
Brazil’s telecommunications law and boost companies The bill could also benefit Claro, the local subsidiary
in the sector by lifting restrictions on asset sales. The of Mexico’s America Movil SAB de CV, and TIM
Brazil full Senate could vote on the bill, known as PLC 79. The Participações SA, a subsidiary of Telecom Italia SpA .
bill has already passed the lower house of Congress The bill changes the current, more restricted model so
and, if approved by the Senate, will go the President Jair that assets used under concessions would no longer
Bolosonaro to be signed. The law aims to encourage revert to the government once a service provider’s
investment in broadband in remote areas of Brazil by contract period expires. It also ends the requirement
allowing companies to own outright telecom assets, that providers invest in outdated technology such
such as cellphone towers and valuable real estate, that as public phones and landlines. Besides removing
they may sell if they so choose. Passage of PLC 79 is restrictions on asset sales, the new law would allow
expected to unleash a wave of asset sales and benefit fixed-voice concessionaires to swap obligations they
the entire Brazilian telecommunications industry, have under current concessions for investments in
especially Oi SA, which is in bankruptcy protection and broadband assigned by telecoms regulator Anatel.
would become more attractive to a buyer. Shares of Oi (September 11, 2019) reuters.com
jumped 4% on news that the bill cleared the committee

Canada’s leading rural fixed-wireless broadband access and consumer premise equipment, meeting
provider Xplornet Communications has sublicensed 3GGP standards. The AWS-4 downlink spectrum will
40MHz of AWS-4 spectrum from TerreStar Solutions be paired with available uplink spectrum, including
covering most of the rural households across Canada’s frequencies currently held by Xplornet. AWS-4 is
Canada ten provinces to support a national 5G wireless one of a number of bands that will be deployed to
broadband network rollout. The ‘mid-band’ (2000MHz- deliver 5G services, with Xplornet holding mobile and
2020MHz and 2180MHz-2200MHz) spectrum fixed licensed spectrum in the 3500MHz, 2500MHz,
agreement with TerreStar covers 37 ‘tier three’ and 13 600MHz, 700MHz and AWS-1 bands. Tim Dinesen, CTO
‘tier four’ areas for a period up to March 2035, with an at Xplornet, said: ‘Having more mid-band spectrum
option for Xplornet to extend the term of the agreement is an important next step in our plan to advance the
should TerreStar’s AWS-4 licenses be renewed. The availability of wireless broadband services to rural
spectrum band can be used to provide fixed or mobile Canadians. We have made significant investments in
broadband. Xplornet says the spectrum investment our broadband network in recent years and are eager to
will enable it to develop the latest wireless technology put this AWS-4 spectrum to work, complementing our
to deliver 5G-based services with speeds of 100Mbps existing spectrum holdings.’ Xplornet intends to invest
and affordable unlimited data plans for rural broadband over CAD500 million (USD379 million) in the next five
customers across Canada. The operator is currently years. (September 13, 2019) telegeography.com
working with manufacturers to develop 5G-ready radio
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