31.03.2020

 

The communications providers Orange and Vodafone have each paid the RON equivalent of EUR30 million for the extension of validity of their licences in the 2100 MHz band. Thus, ANCOM has extended the frequency usage licences held by the two providers, which are now valid for the period 1 April 2020 – 31 December 2031. The licence fees, totalling EUR60 million, have been paid to the state budget.

 

In the case of RCS & RDS and Telekom Romania Mobile Communications, the fee for the extension of each licence has been set as the RON equivalent of EUR25 million. The two operators must pay the fee by 30 November 2021, and their licenses are to be subsequently extended.

 

ANCOM proposed the amount of the extension fee for the existing licences in the 2100 MHz band following a public consultation launched in December 2019. The fee amount proposed by ANCOM and adopted by the Government was determined in proportion to the duration of the extension: the RON equivalent of EUR30 million for each of the Orange and Vodafone licences and the RON equivalent of EUR25 million for each of the RCS&RDS and Telekom Romania Mobile Communications licences.

 

The Government decision setting the amount of the licence fee for the extension of frequency usage licences and the corresponding payment conditions was published in the Romanian Official Journal no. 258 of 30 March 2020.

 

Use of the 2100 MHz band

Orange, Telekom and Vodafone use the 2100 MHz band for the provision of UMTS/3G networks and services, whereas RCS & RDS uses this band for the provision of UMTS/3G and LTE/4G networks and services.

According to the latest statistical data of ANCOM, at mid-2019, there were 19.6 million mobile internet connections in Romania, of which 84% were 3G and 4G, and 22.3 million active mobile telephony users.