Page 152 - SAMENA Trends - September 2019

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Guyanese government’s E-Access and ICT Services 174 ICT hubs. The minister was quoted as saying of
for Hinterland, Poor and Remote Communities Project the project’s progress: ‘There are no longer gaps that
is due to connect parts of the Pomeroon-Supenaam say because you are located in a certain part of our
region (Region 2) by the end of September, Minister geographical landscape that you will be locked out…
Guyana of Public Telecommunications Catherine Hughes That traditionally is what we referred to as the digital
confirmed in an interview. According to the Minister, divide; where the people on the coast have access
the program has already rolled out connectivity to to the internet among other opportunities while the
more than a dozen communities, and the government hinterland does not’.
has also provided internet access to 170 schools and (September 13, 2019) telegeography.com

The Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) The regulator intends to auction a total of 380MHz of
has released the names of companies lining up to spectrum across the three bands, including 100MHz
bid in its forthcoming auctions of 3.3GHz, 3.5GHz at 3.3GHz, 200MHz at 3.5GHz and 80MHz at 4.9GHz.
and 4.9GHz 5G-capable spectrum. Unsurprisingly, The first auction – for the 3.5GHz frequencies – will be
Hong Kong the roster consists of the territory’s four incumbent held on 14 October, and this will then be followed by the
mobile network operators (MNOs), HKT, Hutchison
4.9GHz and 3.3GHz sales.
3, China Mobile Hong Kong (CMHK) and SmarTone. (September 16, 2019) telegeography.com

Hungarian telecoms regulator the NMHH has published the eligibility criteria’. DIGI is expected to appeal the
the list of participants in the country’s upcoming 5G decision. The multi-band license auction will take place
frequency auction, including three of the incumbent on four separate days, starting with bidding for blocks
mobile network operators (MNOs) – Magyar Telekom, in the 2600MHz band, followed by 3600MHz, 700MHz
Hungary Telenor Hungary and Vodafone Hungary – but omitting and finally 2100MHz bands. The NMHH will disclose all
bidding results at the end of the procedure, scheduled
the fourth MNO, DIGI Hungary. Following its formal
examination of the four applicants which began 8 to take place in late October/early November. Licenses
August, the NMHH says that it did not register the are valid for 15 years, renewable for five years.
fourth would-be 5G bidder because it ‘did not meet (September 16, 2019) telegeography.com

Sector watchdog the Telecom Regulatory Authority imposed by the DoT had ‘resulted in uncalled-
of India (TRAI) has published a consultation paper on for delays in mergers being taken on record.’ The
potential reforms to merger and acquisition rules, with document also includes input from Virtual Network
the goal of simplifying and speeding up the process. Operators Association of India (VNOAI) requesting
India The paper outlines the current guidelines for the that access to networks for virtual network operators
(VNOs) be made mandatory a part of conditions for
transfer or merger of licenses and requests suggestions
from stakeholders on how the existing rules could be mergers, to maintain competition. Under the industry
changed India’s mobile market has recently undergone group’s proposals, the merged entity would be obliged
a second wave of consolidation but numerous takeover to ‘set aside 20% of wholesale capacity for MVNOs on
or merger attempts ran into regulatory delays and Mobile Bitstream Access (MBA) bases. Elsewhere, the
barriers, ultimately leading to the collapse of several TRAI’s highlights potential ambiguity in the text for a
operators. In most of the cases, the Department of Unified License (UL), and has sought suggestions on
Telecommunications (DoT) had required as a condition rephrasing certain clauses to make the terms of the
of its approval that the providers submit guarantees concession unambiguous. (September 20, 2019) telegeography.com
for one-time spectrum charges (OTSC) – the validity of
which remains subjudice – leading to a series of legal Indian sector watchdog the Telecom Regulatory
challenges that drastically extended the time period for Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a public consultation
the mergers. The TRAI’s paper highlights a submission paper reviewing its plans to eliminate interconnection
from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), usage charges (IUC) for voice calls from January 2020,
seemingly blaming the providers and the Telecom replacing the system with a so-called Bill And Keep
Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) (BAK) model. In its paper, the TRAI notes that the 2017
for the delays, stating that the operator’s petitions to decision to reduce termination rates to zero from the
the arbitration court to set aside certain conditions start of 2020 was based in part on the expectation

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