On February 15, the European Parliament adopted the proposal establishing Europe’s first Radio Spectrum Policy Program (RSPP), for five years. ANCOM has begun implementing the first radio spectrum management activities that will allow Romania to observe the deadlines set down in the RSPP.
The program sets out policy orientations and objectives for the strategic planning and harmonization of the use of spectrum in accordance with the directives applicable to electronic communications networks and services. According to the RSPP, the member states have until January 1, 2013, to carry out the authorization process in order to allow the use of the 800 MHz band for electronic communications services.
The European Commission shall grant specific derogations until 31 December 2015 for member states in which exceptional national or local circumstances or cross-border frequency coordination problems would prevent the availability of the band, acting upon a duly substantiated application from the member state concerned.
If a member state’s substantiated cross-border frequency coordination problems with one or more countries, including candidate or acceding countries, persist after 31 December 2015 and prevent the availability of the 800 MHz band, the Commission shall grant exceptional derogations on an annual basis until such problems are overcome.
By the middle of next year, the Commission and member states will establish an inventory of existing spectrum use together with an analysis of technology trends, future needs and demand for spectrum, in particular between 400 MHz and 6 GHz.
At the same time, by the end of 2012, the member states will have to authorize the harmonized use of frequency bands 2.5-2.69 GHz, 3.4-3.8 GHz and 900/1800 MHz for broadband wireless communication.
By 2015 at the latest, the Commission and member states will need to ensure the availability of a sufficiently harmonized spectrum for security and civil protection services.
This year, ANCOM will auction off 365 MHz in frequency bands 800, 900, 1,800 and 2,600 MHz, precisely the bands designated under the RSPP as of utmost importance for broadband wireless communication. The regulator is also prepared to launch an auction for digital TV licenses, but is waiting for the Communication Ministry to adopt a new strategy.
As for the 3.4-3.8 GHz frequency band, ANCOM has consulted and adopted the strategy on the implementation and development of BWA systems (Broadband Wireless Access) in 2011-2020.
The radio frequency spectrum is responsible for 3.5 million jobs and more than EUR250 billion every year in Europe.