Page 83 - SAMENA Trends - September 2019

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

VEON Acquires Direct Ownership of Jazz, Banglalink; GTH Delists

Amsterdam-based VEON has announced Exchange (EGX), following a Delisting open up adjacent growth opportunities.
that its offer to acquire the multinational Decree published by the EGX. GTH also Alex Kazbegi, Group Chief Strategy Officer,
operating assets of its Egypt-based paid its final instalment of outstanding tax said: ‘Over the next 18 months, there are
subsidiary Global Telecom Holding (GTH) liabilities to the Egyptian Tax Authority. opportunities that we believe will best
has been approved at a GTH shareholder VEON has set out a ‘future strategy and serve investor interests over the medium-
meeting, following which VEON has capital allocation framework’, including a term. We are excited about the opportunity
completed the intra-group ownership commitment to boost long-term growth in our core Russian market, which we
transfers of mobile operators Jazz beyond traditional connectivity services believe can be best accessed through a
(Pakistan) and Banglalink (Bangladesh), as a ‘communications and digital services short-term increase in network CAPEX
and submarine cable operator Med provider’. The strategy is based on three to allow us to drive medium-term service
Cable. VEON’s announcement did not business pillars: mobile and fixed line revenue growth. In Pakistan, there may be
mention Algerian cellco Djezzy, which Connectivity services; a portfolio of New the opportunity to increase our stake in the
is also expected to be transferred from Services built around digital technologies business through the existing put option
GTH to direct VEON ownership under the with the active involvement of big data with Warid. We also believe stepping up our
agreed offer. NASDAQ and Euronext-listed and artificial intelligence; and Future investment in Digital Financial Services in
VEON also confirmed that GTH’s shares Assets which seeks to identify, acquire and Pakistan is an exciting first step in Future
have been delisted from the Egyptian develop ‘know-how’ and technologies that Assets.’

Regional Organizations Wrapping Up WRC-19 Preparations

The African Telecommunications Union (ATU) held its final
preparatory meeting ahead of World Radiocommunication
Conference 2019 (WRC-19), convened by the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU). Attending the session in South
Africa was Brian Jacobs, ZS6YZ, who represented the South
African Radio League (SARL) and International Amateur Radio
Union Region 1 (IARU R1) as part of the South African delegation.
Delegates reached consensus on several items of interest to the
Amateur Service. The highlights included:
Agreement on an African Common Proposal (AFCP) on allocating Radiolocation, and Amateur and Amateur Satellite services in
50 – 54 MHz to the Amateur Service in Region 1 on a primary basis Australia and provides key technical inputs to meetings of ITU-R
with provisions to allow wind profiler radars and the Amateur Working Parties 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D; the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity
Service to avoid mutual interference. (WRC Agenda Item 1.1) (APT), and WRC-19. Australian Communications and Media
Discussion on spectrum to be considered for International Mobile Authority (ACMA) sites Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne were
Telecommunications, (IMT), which ATU agreed should not include linked via videoconference to review progress toward relevant
the primary amateur band at 47 – 47.2 GHz. (WRC Agenda Item WRC-19 agenda items, to discuss the outcomes of recent
1.13) international meetings, and to decide on any follow-up actions.
Agreement to an AFCP that retains the current regulatory Coordinators for each WRC-19 agenda item briefed the meeting
position in the 5725 – 5850 MHz band, which includes secondary on the progress of work at ITU-R and the outcome of the APT fifth
allocations to the Amateur and Amateur Satellite services. (WRC Conference Preparatory Group (APG19-5) meeting, held in July
Agenda Item 1.16) and August in Tokyo, which reached preliminary APT common
No change to the International Radio Regulations regarding proposals for WRC-19. The ARSG 5 meeting also discussed the
wireless power transfer for electric vehicles (WPT-EV), but upcoming final meeting of the Department of Communications
with a continuation of International Telecommunication Union and the Arts (DOCA) Preparatory Group WRC-19 (PG WRC-19), set
Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) studies to ensure that for September 16. DOCA is responsible for communications policy
appropriate frequency ranges and technical limits are incorporated and programs. The PG WRC-19 meeting will finalize Australia’s
into standards to protect radio services. positions on all WRC-19 agenda items and provide security
In ITU Region 3, the Australian Radio Study Group 5 (ARSG 5) met and operational information for the Australian delegation to the
for the final time on August 23 in advance of WRC-19. ARSG 5 conference. World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 will
addresses terrestrial systems and networks for the Fixed, Mobile, take place October 28 – November 22 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

83 SEPTEMBER 2019