Page 146 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

estimated at about 10 million. India had about 470,000 Airtel started rolling out 5G services in October 2022.
5G base stations at end-February, the Ministry of Com- Chinese operators launched 5G services in late 2019.
munications reported. The country’s 5G subscribers to- (June 26, 2025) www.mobileworldlive.com
taled 290 million at end-2024. Reliance Jio and Bharti

Colombia has launched a new digital security strategy ment laying out the strategy. Molina expects congress
as part of efforts to create a more resilient digital en- to approve the plan and concentrate cybersecurity in a
vironment. While presenting the strategy, ICT minister "focused national security agency." The document also
Julián Molina said that Colombia was subject to 36bn highlights that Colombia lacks mechanisms for ex-
Colombia cyberattacks last year, making it the second most at- changing information on cyber threats between public
tacked country in Latin America. "We must be an effec- and private entities, which limits the ability to anticipate
tive and efficient shield to prevent the success of these and respond to incidents. Insufficient international co-
attacks," Molina said, adding that 32bn attacks were operation on digital security is mentioned as another
blocked. According to Molina, 76% of attacks targeted problem. The lack of a cyber incident response system,
the institutional system. The strategy was developed especially when it comes to public entities, exacerbates
by the national digital security committee with support this situation, allowing attacks to spread and cause sig-
from the Organization of American States' cybersecuri- nificant damage before being contained. Colombia also
ty group. The absence of an entity to coordinate digital identified regulatory obsolescence and lack of periodic
security has resulted in the fragmentation of initiatives update mechanisms to review digital security regula-
and a dispersion of resources, according to the docu- tions. (June 25, 2025) www.bnamericas.com

Deputy Commissioner of Communications of Cyprus Regulators to be even more proactive and evidence
Mr. Petros Galides, in his capacity as Chairman of based. The impact of regulatory measures can be tested
the European and Mediterranean Regulators Group in safe environments before implementation and can be
(EMERG) and Member of the Board of the ITU Digital continuously monitored and optimised in near real time.
Cyprus Regulation Network (DRN), participated in the World Cross sectoral and global collaboration is the answer
Summit on the Information Society (WSIS Forum), held to most effectively address the increasingly complex
by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) challenges of the digital age, like digital security and
in Geneva from 7 to 11 July 2025. Mr. Galides was a ensuring the use of AI for good, with collaborative
speaker in the session titled “Digital Ecosystem Builders platforms like EMERG and the ITU proving invaluable.
in Action: Redefining the Role of ICT Regulators”, Trust, interoperability, and shared objectives have been,
where he presented both EMERG initiatives and the and will be, critical success factors. Technology enables
innovative actions of the Office of the Commissioner smarter regulation, but it’s the human and institutional
of Communications in Cyprus. In his statement, Mr. collaboration that ensures it is used wisely.”
Galides said: “Transformative technologies enable (July 28, 2025) ITU Press Release

French telecom services regulator Arcep has extended total of 175 frequency licenses since 2022, as part of its
the window for 5G trials in the 3.8–4.0 GHz band to window for trials in the 3.8–4.0 GHz band. The regulator
the 4.0–4.2 GHz band. In a release, Arcep said that also said that 90 of these trials were still ongoing at the
the move was implemented to satisfy demand from end of June 2025. “Arcep has a positive assessment of
France manufacturers and stakeholders wanting to assess their this window, and notes the diversity of the stakeholders
involved, covering a wide range of economic sectors
local mobile network projects for business use cases
across the entire 3.8–4.2 GHz band. In March 2022, and this in multiple regions across metropolitan France,”
the regulator initially opened a trial window in 3.8–4.0 the regulator said. Following requests from businesses
GHz band for manufacturers and businesses wanting wanting to trial private mobile network projects and
to trial new 5G use cases. The regulator noted that thereby evaluate 5G use cases in the 4.0–4.2 GHz band,
the goal was to satisfy the mobile connectivity needs Arcep is now expanding its trial window to the entire
of verticals such as manufacturing, logistics, energy, 3.8–4.2 GHz band. At the same time, Arcep continues
health and smart cities that may want to use private to work on establishing a regulatory framework with
4G/5G networks to deliver new services or improve their a view to opening a long-term assignment window for
operational performance. Arcep said it has issued a 3.8–4.2 GHz band frequencies,” the regulator added.

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