The Romanian regulator National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM) has announced plans for a new auction for the frequencies remaining after selection procedures carried out in 2012 and 2015.
According to a press release from the communication market regulator, it would launch this fall, ahead of the auction for 5G technology, an auction for short-term (several years) licenses covering some segments unused so far of the radio spectrum in the 800 MHz, 2,600 MHz, and 3,400 - 3,600 MHz bands.
ANCOM proposes awarding the usage rights for the available frequencies by organizing two distinct selection procedures: the one hereby launched for public consultation, aimed at awarding usage rights for the available spectrum remaining from previous auctions, organized in 2012 and 2015, and a second, subsequent selection procedure, for awarding usage rights in the new bands (700 MHz and 1500 MHz) and the 3400-3800 MHz band (with the rights coming into force on 01.01.2026 - when the existing licences in this band expire), after the transposition into national law of the European Electronic Communications Code.
The new licenses are designed to expire at the same time as the existing licenses in force for the same frequency bands. The sale, which is likely to precede the delayed sale of the 5G-suitable spectrum, could raise more than EUR70 million (USD83 million).
ANCOM has set minimum licence fees for the rights to use the frequencies. They are the local currency (RON) equivalent of EUR 22 million for the pair block in the 800 MHz band; EUR 4.3 million for the pair block in the 2600 MHz band; EUR 3.5 million for the unpaired block in the 2600 MHz band; and EUR 700,000 for an unpaired block in the 3400-3800 MHz band.
The licence fees will have to be paid within 15 days from the date of announcing the final results of the auction and go to the state budget.
