“We have finalized the auction conducted for the allocation of new frequencies for mobile broadband communications, as a result of which the two winning participants will pay the state budget EUR43.4 million, which represents 60% of the value of the spectrum made available,” said ANCOM Vice-President Bogdan Iana at the end of the competitive selection procedure for the allocation of 195 MHz available in the 800 MHz, 2600 MHz and 3400 – 3800 MHz bands..
“We decided to hold the auction this year to give interested operators the opportunity to maximize their spectrum holdings to expand the capacity of their networks and thus provide state-of-the-art services. This allocation of additional spectrum for mobile broadband services will breathe new life into competition on the Romanian telecom market, to the benefit of end users.”
As a result of the bid submitted, S.C. RCS&RDS S.A. won the rights of use for the auctioned 2×5 MHz paired block in the 800 MHz frequency band, for 4 2×5 MHz paired blocks in the 2600 MHz FDD frequency band and for 1 unpaired block of 15 MHz in the 2600 MHz TDD band from January 1, 2022 to April 5, 2029.
The amount the operator has to pay as license fee is EUR22 million for the spectrum in the 800 MHz band, EUR17.2 million for the usage rights in the 2600 MHz FDD band and EUR3.5 million for the frequency block in the 2600 MHz TDD band. The operator will pay EUR42.7 million in total license fee.
The operator thus significantly increases the amount of spectrum for which it has rights of use, which will influence the already strong competition on the Romanian market for electronic communications services.
Invite Systems S.R.L. bid for and won the rights of use for 1 unpaired block of 5 MHz in the 3400-3600 MHz frequency band, from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2025, for which it will have to pay a license fee of EUR700,000.
Romania’s government got EUR43.4 million as a result of the auction, which will become revenue for the state budget. The fees must be paid within 15 days of the announcement of the winners of the selection procedure.
The competitive selection procedure for the allocation of radio frequency usage rights in the 800 MHz, 2600 MHz and 3400-3600 MHz bands was launched on October 11, 2021.
Two of the five operators that purchased the specifications book submitted bids that were analyzed and declared successful.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)