Page 162 - SAMENA Trends - September 2019

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

spectrum for 5G services”. Indeed, the move would deployments in the unlicensed portion of the band
help alleviate a shortage of mid-band spectrum in the were originally expected in 2018, but were repeatedly
country, which is favored by operators for 5G since it pushed back as operators awaited final approval from
offers a balance of coverage and capacity. Operators federal regulators. Launches are now expected before
including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile US, Charter the end of 2019, but operators stressed the importance
Communications, US Cellular and Altice USA, have of licensed access for 5G rollouts. The FCC will vote
expressed interest in 3.5GHz, and the CBRS Alliance is on the auction proposal at a meeting on 26 September.
in the process of developing technical specifications (September 5, 2019) mobileworldlive.com
for 5G operation in the shared band. Initial commercial

Mobile Broadband Limited, which trades under financially capable of meeting the obligations of the
the Vodafone Zambia banner, will cease operating terms and conditions of the license’. Having said the
next month after the Zambia Information and license cancellation will become effective 30 days from
Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) 20 September 2019, the ZICTA also confirmed it has
announced the cancellation of its license. In a press withdrawn the frequency bands that were assigned to
Zambia release regarding the matter, the regulator noted that Vodafone Zambia. This development comes less than
it had made the ‘on the grounds that [the operator] has a week after reports which said that, amid continuing
ceased to fulfil the eligibility requirements under Section financial struggles, Vodafone Zambia was to be sold,
12 of the Information and Communication Technologies after its current shareholders had failed to recapitalize
(ICT) Act No.15 of 2009 by not being technically and it. (September 27, 2019) telegeography.com

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory project is planned to be implemented as a turnkey
Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) has invited bids for vendor-financed Build and Transfer joint venture
the deployment of 100 wireless base stations in rural agreement. The supplier undertakes the financing and
areas to improve mobile network coverage. The rollout construction of the project and after its completion
will be financed by the Universal Services Fund (USF), hands it over to POTRAZ. POTRAZ reimburses the total
Zimbabwe with the base stations to be made available for use by project investment on the basis of an agreed schedule.’
the country’s three cellcos, Econet Wireless, NetOne (August 31, 2019) telegeography.com
and Telecel. A statement from the regulator said: the

Disclaimer: Information contained in Member News updates, Regional News updates, Policy & Regulatory updates, Satellite News updates, Tech-
nology News updates, Snapshot of Regulatory News SAMENA Countries, Regulatory News beyond SAMENA region and Wholesale News updates
have been obtained from sources, which we deem reliable. SAMENA Telecommunications Council is not liable for any misinformed decisions that the
reader may reach by being solely reliant on information contained herein. Expert advice should be sought.

162 SEPTEMBER 2019