On 30 November 2011, the National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications ("NAMRC") announced its intention to hold a tender for the spectrum frequency in the 900 MHz ( i.e. 890 – 915 MHz / 935 – 960 MHz) and 1800 MHz (i.e., 1722.7 – 1747.5 MHz / 1817.7 – 1842.5 MHz) bands, by the end of 2013. The rights of use to these spectrum frequencies are currently held by Orange Romania and Vodafone Romania, the first two ranked mobile communication providers in Romania, and their rights of use have been extended until 31 December 2012 (according to the NAMRC Decision 1816/2011). For the period between 1 January 2013 and 5 April 2014, NAMRC will grant licenses of use to these spectrum frequencies, using a procedure to be determined. On 5 April 2014 the rights held by the third ranked provider, Cosmote Romania, in these bands, will also expire.

By December 2012, Orange Romania and Vodafone Romania have to release a cumulated sub-band of 2 x 5 MHz bandwidth from the 900 MHz band (i.e.  900 – 902.5 MHz, 945 – 947.5 MHz and 902.5 – 905 MHz, 947.5 – 950 MHz), that will be allocated during 2012, through a selection procedure.

The current allocation of the spectrum frequencies is presented in the table below:

Band

Orange Romania

Vodafone Romania

Cosmote Romania

900 MHz

2 x 12.4 MHz

Awarded at the end of 1996 for a period of 15 years

Extended until 31 Dec. 2012

2 x 12.4 MHz

Awarded at the end of 1996 for a period of 15 years

Extended until 31 Dec. 2012

2 x 10 MHz

Awarded at the end of 1998 for a period of 15 years

Valid until 5 Apr. 2014

1,800 MHz

2 x 12.4 MHz

Awarded at the end of 1996 for a period of 15 years

Extended until 31 Dec. 2012

2 x 12.4 MHz

Awarded at the end of 1996 for a period of 15 years 

Extended until 31 Dec. 2012

2 x 12.6 MHz 

Awarded at the end of 1996 for a period of 15 years 

Valid until 5 Apr. 2014

For more details on the NAMRC decision, in Romanian, click here.

This article was written for Law-Now, CMS Cameron McKenna's free online information service. To register for Law-Now, please go to www.law-now.com/law-now/mondaq

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The original publication date for this article was 01/03/2012.