Page 150 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

A new law aimed at transforming the telecommunications could lead to weakened regulatory oversight, potential
landscape in the Philippines has ignited widespread national security threats, and industry destabilization.
debate, bringing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the “We support increased connectivity for all Filipinos, but
spotlight as he prepares to weigh its implications before the bill lowers accountability standards and exposes
Philippines signing. The Konektadong Pinoy Act, also known as the the nation to risks from unregulated infrastructure
Open Access in Data Transmission Act, seeks to enhance
and foreign influence,” remarked Atty. Froilan Castelo,
internet accessibility, reduce costs, and elevate service PCTO President and Globe’s General Counsel. The
quality, particularly in underserved regions. Proponents controversial bill eliminates the requirement for new
assert that the legislation is a game-changer, designed data transmission firms to secure a legislative franchise
to welcome new market entrants by dismantling or a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity
regulatory barriers, such as the need for a legislative (CPCN). Castelo cautioned that this action removes
franchise. Nonetheless, the Philippine Chamber of critical safeguards meant to evaluate financial, legal,
Telecommunications Operators (PCTO), an organization and technical capabilities, creating an unbalanced
representing major telecom firms like PLDT and Globe landscape where established players adhere to stricter
Telecom, has voiced significant concerns. The group is regulations while newcomers operate with leniency.
urging a closer examination of the law, warning that it (June 27, 2025) www.retailnews.asia

Slovakia’s three largest mobile operators have stretched trum and additional frequencies in the 900MHz and
their network resource advantage in the latest auction 1800MHz bands in 2020. Slovakia’s four MNOs all se-
by Úrad pre reguláciu elektronických komunikácií a cured airwaves, with Deutsche Telekom-owned Slovak
poštových služieb (Regulatory Authority for Electronic Telekom proving the biggest spender, laying out about
Slovakia Communications and Postal Services/úrad), although €165m to secure rights across all six categories, includ-
ing the sole TDD block on offer at 2.6GHz. Orange Slo-
concerns have emerged overspend levels. The auction
saw úrad allocate frequencies in the 800MHz, 900MHz, vakia invested around €145m in 13 blocks across the
1500MHz, 2.1GHz, and 2.6GHz bands, including Fre- five bands while O2 Slovakia spent about €150m on a
quency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex similar haul, and Swan (4ka) trailed in fourth place in
(TDD) variants in the latter band. In doing so, it raised the spending rankings. Ivan Marták, Chairman of the
€506m, which operators will settle in tranches through regulatory authority, noted that the auction had brought
to 2028. Most of the frequency rights cover the period in around €140m more than expected because of the
from 1 January 2029 to 31 December 2048, although “intense competition” between the four operators. Al-
access to the 1500MHz band has been made available though he conceded that this would be a welcome ad-
to operators immediately, and the 2.1GHz airwaves will dition to the state budget, he pointed out that the price
open from September 8, 2026. The auction is Slova- paid is “too high by European standards” and “may slow
kia’s third in five years: the nation completed a 3.6GHz down the operators’ investment plans for the develop-
spectrum auction in 2022 and opened up 700MHz spec- ment of digital services”. (July 10, 2025) www.telcotitans.com

President Cyril Ramaphosa has endorsed a proposal meet empowerment obligations through investments
to reform South Africa’s telecommunications sector, in infrastructure, skills development, or digital inclusion
backing Communications Minister Solly Malatsi’s push initiatives rather than direct equity sales. Ramaphosa,
for Equity Equivalent Investment Programmes (EEIPs) as speaking at the National Council of Provinces,
South Africa an alternative to the country’s stringent Black Economic described the proposal as “innovative” and legally
Empowerment (BEE) ownership requirements. This sound, emphasizing that it aligns with existing laws and
move is aimed at enabling global players like Elon is not tailored to favour any single company, including
Musk’s Starlink to operate in South Africa, sparking Starlink. He noted that public hearings will precede any
both optimism and fierce political debate. The current changes. The proposal follows a high-profile meeting
regulations require network infrastructure operators between Ramaphosa and U.S. President Donald Trump
and communications service providers to allocate on May 21, 2025, where South Africa’s BEE policies and
30% ownership to historically disadvantaged groups Starlink’s potential entry were reportedly discussed,
(HDGs) to secure national operating licences. This though Ramaphosa later clarified that Starlink was not
policy is rooted in the Broad-Based Black Economic the focus. The Independent Communications Authority
Empowerment (B-BBEE) Act of 2003, which aims to of South Africa (Icasa) has yet to receive a formal licence
address apartheid-era inequalities. Malatsi’s draft application from Starlink, and its regulations currently
policy directive, gazetted on May 23, 2025, proposes do not fully reflect the ICT Sector Code’s provisions for
EEIPs as a workaround, allowing multinationals to EEIPs. (June 26, 2025) www.ainvest.com

150 JUNE-JULY 2025