Page 144 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

REGULATORY ACTIVITIES BEYOND

THE SA-ME-NA REGION

The Argentinian government has again raised concerns areas the telecom giant could control over 40% of the
over operator Telecom Argentina’s plan to acquire rival internet market. In 143, it could dominate fixed phone
Telefónica Móviles Argentina and the possibility of a services. However, some parts of the country could see
two-player market. Following a review by the National near-monopolies. In corporate telecommunications
Argentina Commission for the Defence of Competition (CNDC), the services, meanwhile, the combined market share, at over
country’s Secretariat of Industry and Commerce (SIyC) 50%, could be detrimental to competition in a strategic
has issued an official objection to the merger, warning segment, according to CNDC. Bundled services could
that the deal, which would give Telecom Argentina full also be hit, with Telecom, potentially, the only player
control of Telefónica's operations in Argentina, could able offer nationwide quad-play packages that include
seriously harm competition in the telecom sector. mobile telephony, internet, pay TV, and fixed telephony.
Telefonica provides mobile and fixed telephony, fixed Of course, these concerns have been expressed before.
broadband and pay TV services nationwide under the In March the US$1.245 billion, deal, agreed in February,
Movistar and Tuenti brands. Telecom operates in the was put on hold, apparently by order of Argentina’s
fixed and mobile telephony, high-speed internet access government. As for the next move, it seems a special
and cable television segments. One of CNDC’s worries hearing to analyze possible measures to mitigate the
is that the merger will result in the elimination of one of potential negative effects of the merger on competition
the country's three main mobile phone operators, leaving has been proposed. According to one news source,
only two players: Telecom would have about 58% of the Telecom has been given fifteen days to present ways
market. AMX (Claro), would have 42%. The merger would to mitigate the risks CNDC has highlighted and present
also put Telecom Argentina over the legal spectrum cap them at the hearing.
of 140 MHz in all areas. In addition, however, in 114 (June 23, 2025) www.developingtelecoms.com

Betfair Pty Limited has paid a $871,660 penalty after Samantha Yorke said the ACMA has no tolerance for
sending commercial messages that did not comply non-compliance with the Spam Act in the gambling
with Australia’s spam laws to its VIP customers. An sector, including were messages target VIP customers.
Australian Communications and Media Authority “VIP programs are generally designed to attract and
Australia (ACMA) investigation found Betfair sent 148 emails retain customers with high betting activity; however, this
and text messages between March and December doesn’t mean VIP customers are well off or can afford
2024 to customers who had not consented or had losses,” Ms. Yorke said. “Sending promotional gambling
withdrawn their consent to receive such messages. messages to these customers without consent or
The investigation also found that Betfair sent six text with no option to opt-out is incredibly irresponsible in
messages and emails over the same period that did addition to being non-compliant.” “The spam laws have
not contain an option for customers to unsubscribe. been in place for over twenty years, and it is simply
The messages were sent to members of a Betfair unacceptable for businesses not to respect the rights
VIP program, offering inducements such as account of their customers.”
deposits and free tickets to events. Authority Member (July 30, 2025) www.acma.gov.au

The National Telecommunications Company (Entel) has spectrum for the experience zones. In December
begun a 5G test phase in "experience zones" around the 2024, ATT established the country's first 5G laboratory
country in preparation for the expected official rollout in to experiment and develop projects related to this
the second half of 2025. The experimentation spaces technology and facilitate its implementation. "We have
Bolivia are located in strategic locations in each capital of a journey from GSM to 3G and 4G technology, which has
Bolivia's nine departments such as airports, business
really seen a directly proportional change," ATT director
areas, markets, and other high-traffic spaces. The Néstor Ríos said last September, according to Bolivian
tests are being conducted in the 3.5 GHz band after financial media outlet Economy. "These advances give
the Telecommunications and Transport Regulation us grounds to already think about preparing for the
and Taxation Authority (ATT) allocated 100 MHz of adoption of 5G technology for the 2025 management,

144 JUNE-JULY 2025