Communications minister Dan Nica said in a press release Monday the auction to award mobile telephony licenses was a success. “We expect the Romanian telecom market will become more active and will provide new services, including 4G mobile services,” the minister said.
On Monday, Romania’s telecom market regulator ANCOM said telecom operators Cosmote, Orange, RCS&RDS, Vodafone and 2K Telecom will pay EUR682.14 million for mobile telephony licenses in frequency bands 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1.800 MHz and 2.600 MHz.
Vodafone Romania will pay EUR228.52 million, Orange Romania will pay EUR227.14 million, Cosmote Romania will pay EUR179.88 million, RCS&RDS will pay EUR40 million and 2K Telecom will pay EUR6.6 million.
ANCOM auctioned off 42 mobile telephony licenses valid from April 6, 2014 until 2029: six in the 800 MHz band, seven in the 900 MHz band, 15 in the 1,800 MHz band and 14 in the 2,600 MHz band, as well as three unpaired 15 MHz blocks in the 2,600 MHz band.
Following the auction, Cosmote Romania was awarded a frequency block in the 800 MHz band, two blocks in the 900 MHz band, five blocks in the 1.800 MHz band and two blocks in the 2.600 MHz band, valid between 2014 and 2029.
Orange Romania was awarded two blocks in the 800 MHz band, two blocks in the 900 MHz band, four blocks in the 1.800 MHz band and four blocks in the 2.600 MHz band, valid between 2014 and 2029. Orange Romania also won short-term licenses, namely five blocks in the 900 MHz band and three blocks in the 1.800 MHz band, valid between January 1, 2013 and April 5, 2014.
Vodafone Romania was awarded two blocks in the 800 MHz band, two blocks in the 900 MHz band, six blocks in the 1.800 MHz band and a 15 MHz block in the 2.600 MHz band, valid between 2014 and 2029. The operator has also won short-term licenses, namely five blocks in the 900 MHz band and three blocks in the 1.800 MHz band, valid between January 1, 2013 and April 5, 2014.
RCS&RDS was assigned a block in the 900 MHz band, valid between 2014 and 2029, and 2K Telecom won two 15 MHz blocks in the 2.600 MHz band, valid between 2014 and 2029.