Page 83 - SAMENA Trends - September 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

which it said that having considered its content and for one final renewal for a further period, though it has
implications, it aims to provide a further update ‘in due been stipulated that that secondary extension will see
course, as appropriate’. Meanwhile, the regulator noted temporary concessions expire no later than 1 April
that, as it has not yet adopted an updated decision with 2022. Of note, in publishing its draft decision ComReg
respect to its analysis of the Retail Fixed Telephony said that it expects this to be its final proposal to put
Service (‘RFTS’) and wholesale Fixed Access and in place a further temporary licensing framework,
Call Origination (‘FACO’) markets, both its 2014 RFTS suggesting that there have been ‘significant changes
Decision and 2015 FACO Decision remain in full effect. in the prevailing circumstances relevant to any
(September 22, 2021) commsupdate.com further temporary licensing framework’; these, it
said, included the government having set out its plan
Irish communications regulator the Commission for for the final phase of its response to the COVID-19
Communications Regulation (ComReg) has issued a pandemic in August 2021. Meanwhile, noting the
draft decision under which it has proposed a further importance of consulting close to the expiry date of the
extension of its COVID-19 temporary licensing existing licensing framework, and with a stated aim of
framework – under which licenses are currently due ‘progressing matters expeditiously due to the nature
to expire on 1 October 2021. In short, ComReg has of the Temporary Situation’, ComReg is employing
proposed that the temporary licensing framework a greatly accelerated consultation process, with
will be extended by the implementation of a ‘Further submissions requested by a deadline of 13 September
Temporary ECS License (No. 3)’, for a period of up to 2021.
three calendar months. Meanwhile, there will be scope (September 9, 2021) commsupdate.com

The Isle of Man’s Communications and Utilities it had opted to grant the extension ‘having considered
Regulatory Authority (CURA) has extended the the facts that were set out in the request’. Previously,
consultation on plans for the sale of spectrum in in July 2021 the CURA had published ‘Document 20/21
the 700MHz and 3.6GHz bands. In confirming it Consultation on Multi Band Spectrum License Award
Isle of Man was pushing back the deadline for responses to 15 – Information Memorandum’, in which it set out its
preliminary views on the processes for offering up new
September 2021, the regulator said it had done so
following a formal request for a one-week extension. spectrum licenses. Included in the plans were: details
According to the CURA, while it was of the opinion of the spectrum to be awarded; the timescale of the
that the original deadline ‘allowed sufficient time for sale process; and the proposed auction rules.
respondents to consider its preliminary views and (September 10, 2021) commsupdate.com
compile their responses to the issues raised’, it said

The State Communications Agency (SCA) under the 2340MHz) with a bid of KGS296.1 million. O! won Lot 2
Ministry of Digital Development has completed an (1×20MHz, 2340MHz-2360MHz) for KGS353.2 million.
auction of wireless spectrum in the 2300MHz TDD Beeline won Lot 3 (1×40MHz, 2360MHz-2400MHz)
band covering the capital city Bishkek, raising a total for KGS360.1 million. TeleGeography’s GlobalComms
Kyrgyzstan of KGS1.01 billion (USD12 million) in winning bids, up Database shows that the SCA’s other recent 2300MHz
from a starting bid value of just KGS31 million. The TDD license auctions held in March 2021 (national
SCA’s announcement on its website confirmed that scope excluding Bishkek and second city Osh, won
all three bidders – Kyrgyzstan’s main national cellcos by MegaCom) and June 2021 (Batken, Talas and
MegaCom (registered as Alfa Telecom), Sky Mobile Naryn regions only, won by O!) raised comparatively
(Beeline) and Nur Telecom (O!) – secured licenses. small amounts, KGS117 million and KGS17 million
MegaCom won Lot 1 (1×40MHz bandwidth, 2300MHz- respectively. (September 30, 2021) commsupdate.com

The head of the delegation, The Minister of Posts to boost rural telecommunications access in Liberia.
and Telecommunications and Chair of the Governing This paper has reliably gathered that on September
Board of the Universal Access Fund, Cllr Cooper 16, 2021, the Chairman of the Board of the Universal
W. Kruah Sr. signed an agreement on behalf of the Access Fund, Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah Sr. along with a
Liberia Government of Liberia with a company believed to be high power delegation left for Ghana a week ago to
include Chairman of the Project Implementation Unite
a giant telecommunication service provider in Ghana

83 SEPTEMBER 2021