Page 89 - SAMENA Trends - September 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has conditional on MTN upgrading its entire network to
agreed to award an extra 5MHz of wireless spectrum achieve average street-level download speeds of
in the 1800MHz and 2100MHz bands to the country’s 8Mbps within 18 months and to offer roaming on a
largest cellular operator MTN. The firm says it needs the national level to rival operators within six months.
Uganda additional frequencies to increase its network capacity (September 22, 2021) commsupdate.com
and improve quality of service (QoS). The award is

The National Commission for State Regulation of band has been freed up in most regions across Ukraine,
Communications and Informatization (NCCIR or NKRZI) following the revoking of 2300MHz-2345MHz licenses
reported on its website that it has begun the process of previously held by S-Line, and the 2345MHz-2400MHz
re-licensing the 2300MHz-2400MHz frequency band permits of now-defunct WiMAX operator Intellecom
for 4G LTE mobile services, alongside an additional (Giraffe). Mobile operator Vodafone Ukraine – which
Ukraine tranche of nationwide 2600MHz spectrum (2575MHz- complete the acquisition of fixed line provider Vega this
2610MHz) also suitable for LTE. The regulator expects week – holds 15MHz of 2.3GHz spectrum in six regions
that the licensing will generate one-off revenues for the via Farlep-Invest and Cable TV-Finance.
state budget of up to UAH2.4 billion (USD89 million). (September 10, 2021) commsupdate.com
TeleGeography notes that the 2300MHz-2400MHz

Having previously begun consulting on proposals for a some customers switching fixed voice and broadband
new switching process for residential fixed voice and services use to move providers on the Openreach
broadband customers in February 2021, UK telecoms and KCOM networks. Alongside its plans for the fixed
regulator Ofcom has now finalized plans in this area. In communications sector, meanwhile, Ofcom has also
United terms of the key elements of the regulator’s proposals set out plans to improve the information that mobile
– which have been out for consultation, with a 9
network operators must give to customers who
Kingdom November deadline for submissions – it has confirmed are considering switching their service. As per the
that communications providers will be required to proposals, a customer’s current provider will now also
develop and operate a new ‘One Touch Switch’ process need to tell them about the impact of the switch on
for all residential customers who switch fixed voice any other services they also have with that provider,
and broadband services. According to Ofcom, this including bundled products and specific services for
new process will replace the existing arrangements disabled customers. Ofcom has said it aims to publish
from April 2023, and notably it has specified that a statement confirming changes to the ‘General
using One Touch Switch, all customers will be able to Conditions of Entitlement’ – the regulatory rules that
use a single process to move providers regardless of all British communications providers must follow
who their existing provider is or what technology or in order to offer services – in early 2022, subject to
network their service provider uses. Meanwhile, the considering the feedback it receives as part of this
regulator has also decided to remove the rules relating latest consultation.
to the existing ‘Notification of Transfer’ process, which (September 28, 2021) commsupdate.com

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has (bidding as AT&T Auction Holdings), Verizon Wireless
confirmed that a total of 33 applicants have qualified (Cellco Partnership) and T-Mobile US (T-Mobile
to bid in next month’s Auction 110 spectrum sale. License), alongside regional player UScellular (United
The process will offer new flexible-use licenses in the States Cellular Corporation). Fierce Wireless previously
United 3.45GHz–3.55GHz band throughout the contiguous noted that DISH Network will bid via a holding
company called Weminuche, while Grain Management,
United States. The sale process will offer up to 100MHz
States of spectrum divided into ten 10MHz blocks and which owns a number of regional ISPs, will bid via
licensed by Partial Economic Area (PEA), for a total of New Level III. A further nine companies were deemed
4,060 licenses. Bidding in Auction 110 is scheduled to to be ‘not qualified’, including the likes of Frontier
begin on 5 October 2021. As per FCC documentation, Communications.
the list includes major players AT&T Communications (September 22, 2021) commsupdate.com
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.
89 SEPTEMBER 2021