ANCOM improves conditions for 5G licence bidders

Following consultations on the specifications for Romania’s upcoming 5G licence auction in the 700MHz, 1500MHz, 2600MHz and 3400MHz-3800MHz frequency bands, the National Authority for Management & Regulation in Communications (ANCOM) has proposed several amendments to its original terms in response to operators’ appeals, reports Economica.net.

ANCOM has proposed to extend the validity of licences in the 700MHz, 1500MHz and 3400MHz-3800MHz bands to 25 years (from the previously suggested 20 years), whilst keeping the proposed auction starting bid value unchanged at around EUR693 million (USD692 million). Furthermore, the regulator’s latest draft document (see link below for the full text in Romanian) proposes a 30% reduction in the annual fees for the usage of new spectrum. Orange, Vodafone and Telekom Romania Mobile had asked ANCOM to reduce annual spectrum fees so that they could build networks faster and meet objectives of Romania’s national strategy on service coverage and quality. Additionally, ANCOM scrapped a requirement for letters of bank guarantee (‘performance guarantees’) regarding licence payments following requests from Orange and Telekom Romania Mobile.

In another noteworthy concession, requested by Orange and Vodafone, ANCOM’s latest draft plan stated that the mandatory number of covered localities under the new licences will be reduced. TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database (GCD) notes that ANCOM previously proposed that the winning bidders ensure broadband coverage of most urban areas, existing motorways, international airports and modernised railways, as well as 600 specific localities identified as having no or poor mobile coverage.

GCD shows that 2600MHz licence expiry will be aligned with the existing rights in that band, which expire in April 2029.

TeleGeography notes that ANCOM has scheduled an online Advisory/Consultative Council meeting for 14 September 2022 for further discussion of the auction bidder selection procedure, the new spectrum tariffs and the general organisation of the auction, with all interested parties invited to participate.