Prime Minister Victor Ponta on Wednesday asked Communications Minister Dan Nica to earmark funds, from the amount raised at the recent auction to award mobile telephony licenses, for a project aimed to introduce free wireless internet network in all schools and public institutions starting 2013.
Ponta said Romania is the first country in Central and Eastern Europe to have awarded fourth generation (4G) licenses and is able to successfully carry out a project for the introduction of wireless internet in schools. Ponta also said students must not be allowed to surf the internet during classes.
Romania’s telecom market regulator ANCOM on Monday 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.
The watchdog said the five operators acquired 85% of the available spectrum. ANCOM auctioned off frequency blocks totaling 575 MHz, at a starting price of EUR726.8 million.