Page 101 - SAMENA Trends - January 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

high-quality networks will be the key to rejuvenating the the country. The Indian government in June set up a
Indian telecoms industry.” After continued US pressure committee to review Huawei’s network security and
on India to ban the Chinese vendor’s kit, Huawei in previously expressed reluctance to allow the vendor to
October offered to adhere to strict security standards deploy its 5G gear, which it fears could contain back
in a bid to persuade Indian authorities it does not pose doors which could allow the Chinese government to
a threat to 5G networks, with a specific pledge not to spy on users. The country plans to hold 5G spectrum
install backdoors in equipment sold to operators in auctions by the end of Q1. (January 2, 2020) The Economic Times

Italy’s Ministry of Economic Development (Ministero public bodies, in cooperation with telcos such as Wind
dello Sviluppo Economico, MiSE) has allocated more Tre and Telecom Italia (TIM). The projects cover topics
than EUR4 million (USD4.5 million) funding for six such as IoT, smart cities, artificial intelligence (AI) and
projects to develop emerging 5G applications. The blockchain.
Italy schemes are being run by three universities plus three (January 14, 2020) commsupdate.com

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications from NTT DOCOMO and Toshiba to formulate wide-
(MIC) plans to establish a government-led research ranging strategies on ‘sixth-generation’ performance
group to discuss the next generation of mobile goals and policy support by June 2020, promoting the
technologies after 5G, local press is reported as saying. development of 6G using funds from the state budget.
Japan The Nikkei suggests that Japan’s plans for ‘post-5G’ ‘The research will center on network speeds that can
instantly transfer large amounts of data instantly. This
(i.e. 6G) technology envisage communications rates
that are ten time faster than 5G by 2030, while noting technology is suitable for transmitting large amounts
that the likes of China, Finland and South Korea have of data. Unused high-frequency radio waves will also
also begun R&D work and investment in this respect. be used for communication’ the report read.
In Japan, the MIC will reportedly work with officials (January 20, 2020) commsupdate.com

A final report on the allocation of spectrum, including Meanwhile, the assignment of the 26GHz-28GHz bands
frequencies suitable for 5G, has been published by will be conducted via two methods; frequencies in the
the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia 24.9GHz-26.5GHz range will reportedly be assigned
Commission (MCMC), following a public inquiry that through a tender process (beauty contest) to licensees
Malaysia it published last September. In a press release, the on a nationwide basis; and spectrum between 26.5GHz
and 28.1GHz will be assigned on a first-come first-
MCMC noted that the position taken in the final report
‘reflects both MCMC’s deliberation of the responses served basis and will be open to any party (including
to the [public inquiry], and an assessment of current non-licensees) for the purpose of deploying localized
developments globally in relation to 5G deployment’. and/or private networks. According to the MCMC, the
As per the report, the MCMC confirmed it has identified assignments for spectrum in the 26GHz-28GHz bands
the 700MHz, 3.5GHz and 26GHz-28GHz bands as the will be made by way of apparatus assignment (AA),
pioneer spectrum bands for the rollout of 5G in Malaysia. with it suggesting that the appropriate spectrum fee
Of particular note, it said the 700MHz and 3.5GHz bands through AA ‘is more economical, and will encourage
are being considered for allocation to a single entity network deployment by the service provider’. Once the
comprising a consortium formed by multiple licensees, assignment processes are completed, the MCMC has
instead of individual licensees, with the MCMC to said it expects commercial 5G deployments in Malaysia
undertake a tender process for this purpose. According to begin by the third quarter of 2020. Meanwhile,
to the regulator, such an approach is intended to the regulator also confirmed that existing spectrum
lower capital expenditures by minimizing costs and allocations for 4G deployments will be maintained;
preventing the duplication of infrastructure. As this is specifically it said that current 2300MHz and 2600MHz
a new approach, the MCMC has said it will only make spectrum allocations will remain valid until December
available 2×30MHz in the 700MHz band and 100MHz in 2021, with a further review of these frequencies to be
the 3.5GHz band, with the remaining spectrum in these undertaken that year.
bands to be considered for assignment ‘at a later stage’. (January 2, 2020) commsupdate.com

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