Page 115 - SAMENA Trends - August-September 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

companies to deploy solutions for 5G private network need to bid for the 4800MHz band at auction. Telecom
operations. The NBTC expects the initiative to drive operators may participate if they intend to operate as
private 5G adoption across Thailand’s manufacturing PNOs, but licensees cannot provide consumer mobile
and enterprise sectors, enabling companies to boost services or integrate the band with existing 2600MHz
automation, efficiency and digital transformation. services. The NBTC said this restriction aligns with its
However, there are restrictions. According to the objective of promoting dedicated private 5G networks.
Telecom Review Asia news service, enterprises that (September 15, 2025) www.developingtelecoms.com
plan to use private 5G for commercial services will

U.K. communications services regulator Ofcom said it 26 GHz and 40 GHz mmWave spectrum, marking the
will open applications on September 16-17 September country’s largest-ever release of mobile spectrum.
for licenses to use 26 GHz and 40 GHz mmWave The move is designed to accelerate the rollout of 5G
spectrum, marking the country’s largest-ever release of services, expand mobile capacity, and unlock faster
United mobile spectrum. The move is designed to accelerate speeds while encouraging new applications in the
the rollout of 5G services, expand mobile capacity,
telecom sector. 5G technology currently accounts for
Kingdom and unlock faster speeds while encouraging new 28% of all mobile connections in the U.K., according to
applications in the telecom sector. U.K. communications a previous report by the country’s telecommunications
services regulator Ofcom said it will open applications regulator Ofcom.
on September 16-17 September for licenses to use (September 12, 2025) www.rcrwireless.com

Venezuelan operators Movilnet and Cantv jointly paid 2,500-2,600 MHz band (block HH). On that occasion,
nearly US$200mn for spectrum to develop 4G and 5G Cantv lost out to Movistar in the bidding for 2,500 MHz.
telecommunications networks. Movilnet acquired two The January tender raised nearly US$123 million. In this
blocks in the 3.5GHz band (CC and DD) for a total of second process, the State also offered a 5MHz+5MHz
Venezuela 100MHz. The bid reached US$86.9 million per block. block in the 1,700-2,100MHz band (GG), which received
no bids. As in January, the bidding process took place
The private operator Movistar had submitted a bid to
compete for that band, but ultimately declined to offer. on the Caracas Stock Exchange. Its president, José
With this allocation, Movilnet will be able to continue Grasso Vecchio, stated that the process "represents a
expanding its 5G network, which already has nearly great opportunity for the development of the country's
50 sites. Cantv was awarded the FF block of the 2,500 telecommunications sector." According to the sector
MHz band with a bid of US$36.1 million. Television regulator Conatel, during the first half of the year the
and broadband operator SimpleTV had also expressed telecommunications sector contributed more than 7%
interest in that band. In a first bid held in January, private of the country's gross domestic product.
operator Digitel acquired 50 MHz in the 3,500 MHz (August 11, 2025) www.bnamericas.com
band (block BB), while Movistar obtained 40 MHz in the

Zambia has set an ambitious goal of extending 4G and app marks a significant step toward enhancing financial
5G mobile network coverage to 90% of its population by inclusion. By enabling seamless digital payments,
the end of 2025, a move that underscores the country’s particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs),
commitment to accelerating digital transformation. women entrepreneurs, and young people, the app is
Zambia To support this effort, the World Bank has approved expected to expand access to financial tools and foster
a $120 million grant aimed at strengthening Zambia’s
greater participation in the digital economy. Together,
public digital infrastructure. This funding aligns with these initiatives reflect Zambia’s broader push to build
the nation’s Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) a digitally empowered society that connects more
strategy and its long-term Vision 2030, both of which citizens to opportunities for innovation, commerce, and
prioritize inclusive growth through technology. On the development.
financial services front, the launch of the ABSA Mobi Tap (September 24, 2025) africa-news-agency.com

115 AUG-SEP 2025