Page 73 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

REGULATORY ACTIVITIES BEYOND

THE SA-ME-NA REGION

Angolan operator Unitel has strengthened its 4G municipalities and 35.0% of communes. As for its 5G
network in multiple locations to enhance voice and data network, coverage stands at 5.5% of municipalities
services. In a statement, Unitel announced that it had and 2.2% of communes. Unitel stated that its current
upgraded its network with 4G technology in the province network coverage provides a “solid foundation” for
Angola of Uíge and in Bentiaba, Namibe, improving connectivity growth and innovation in 2025. The company pledged
for users in these areas. Providing an update on its to further expand coverage and services this year but
network coverage, Unitel revealed that its 2G network did not disclose specific details about its rollout plan.
currently reaches 100% of municipalities and 52.9% The Angolan government is currently planning to sell its
of communes. Meanwhile, its 3G network covers stake in Unitel as part of broader efforts to privatize the
96.3% of municipalities and 45.9% of communes. The economy.
company’s 4G technology is now available in 80.5% of (March 24, 2025) www.developingtelecoms.com

Telstra has paid a $626,000 penalty and offered a October 2022 and July 2023 to customers of Telstra’s
comprehensive court-enforceable undertaking after it ‘Belong’ brand who either had not consented or had
sent close to 10.5 million text messages that did not withdrawn their consent to receive these messages.
comply with Australia’s spam laws. The Australian Telstra self-reported these matters to the ACMA and
Australia Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) had implemented fixes to most of the underlying
investigation found that Telstra sent 10,433,812 causes before the ACMA commenced its investigation.
texts with unsubscribe arrangements in breach of ACMA member Samantha Yorke said given the age of
the law over a 21-month period from 2022 to 2024, the matters, the ACMA infringement notice was the
including over 10.3 million that required recipients maximum able to be applied in this instance. “The spam
to provide personal information to opt out. Under consent rules have been in force for over 20 years and
Australian law, businesses cannot require consumers Telstra, as a mature and established company, has no
to log in to accounts or provide personal information excuse for this type of non-compliance.” “Consumers
to unsubscribe from receiving further commercial must be able to unsubscribe without giving businesses
messages except where the consumers have agreed more personal information than is required,” Ms. Yorke
to such arrangements. The ACMA investigation also said. (March 6, 2025) www.acma.gov.au
found that a further 43,228 texts were sent between

Telecom operators Brisanet, Ligga/Sercomtel, iez! to manage resources related to the 2014 4G tender,
Telecom and Unifique were declared the winners of along with the communications ministry and regulator
Brazil's second reverse mobile auction. Under the Anatel. The first reverse auction, carried out last year,
reverse model, the lowest bidder for each location saw bids from five operators for 59 locations, with 45
Brazil is awarded a contract to deploy and operate mobile of them receiving more than one offer. Brisanet, Ligga/
services compatible with 4G LTE and ready for 5G. This
Sercomtel and TIM were the winners. The processes are
second auction encompassed 70 locations. Brisanet part of a broader project that foresees investments of
snapped up most of them at 47, followed by Ligga (18), 250mn reais to expand mobile infrastructure in poorly
iez! Telecom (4) and Unifique (1). The process ended connected areas and is funded from a portion of the
with bids totaling 97mn reais (US$16.8mn), 25% lower amount paid by carriers in the 4G tender. A third and
than the cap. The process was carried out by Seja final reverse auction is scheduled to take place by July
Digital, or EAD, a private entity that was created by telcos 2026. (March 24, 2025) www.bnamericas.com

73 MARCH-APRIL 2025