Italy: Public tender in the bands 800, 1800, 2000 and 2600 MHz for LTE services

The Ministry of Economic Development, Department of Communications, (hereafter ‘The Ministry’) has issued a tender for the assignment of rights to use frequencies in the bands 800, 1800, 2000 and 2600 MHz for LTE services, as per Resolution No. 282/11/CONS (May 18, 2011) published in the Official Gazette nº 140 of June 18, 2011, ordinary supplement nº 150, and supplemented by Resolution No. 370/11/CONS (June 23, 2011).

Applications are accepted until 30 days after from the date on the publication in the Official Gazette (last 31st of August).

More information can be consulted at The Ministry’s website. Tender documents and the status on a daily basis is shown on the link.

Russian Federation: SCRF approved a draft decision on the implementation of the LTE standard

The State Commission for Radio Frequencies (SCRF) in Russia approved a draft decision on the use and implementation of radio spectrum for LTE standard during a meeting last 8th of September.

The draft decision proposes the frequency bands 791-862 MHz, the so-called digital dividend, to provide LTE communication services using radio spectrum, on a competitive basis. According to the Ministry of Communications, the band is planned to be licensed to seven LTE operators, four of them - the winners of the competition - will be able to build a dual-band network, three of them - single-band in the upper range.

At the meeting it was also decided to complete the research and present it in the 1st quarter 2012, offering the possibility to use the frequency bands of existing LTE network operators.

The news can be read in Russian language at the Ministry of Communications’ website.

Republic of Bulgaria: Public consultation on LTE

The Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) has issued Decision No 841 of 23.08.2011, launching a public consultation on the perspectives for development of LTE (Long Term Evolution) in Republic of Bulgaria.

The status of different frequency bands related to LTE is described through the consultative document. Currently, the development of LTE technology is mainly directed at frequency bands 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2 GHz and 2500-2690 MHz and 3400-3800 MHz.

Finally, CRC launches four questions to be commented, the possible ranges of interest for the development of LTE, the optimum allocation of the spectrum, the possibility to provide spectrum to build LTE networks with a combination of free resources in different bands, and the possibility of participation in a competitive tender.

Comments in written are accepted until 30 days after from the issuance date.

More information at CRC website, where Decision No 841 can be downloaded.

New Zealand: Public Consultation on new uses of the 700 MHz band

The Ministry of Economic Development issued last 26 of August a public consultation process on the allocation of the digital dividend spectrum. Consultation document covers technical and policy considerations for the allocation of the digital dividend 700 MHz radio spectrum band.

The digital dividend is related to the part of the radiofrequency spectrum will be freed up when the switchover to digital television is totally done. The frequency range 694-806 MHz, used for television broadcast in New Zealand, will be cleared 1st December 2013, when the switchover is concluded. The aim of this document is to allocate the 700 MHz spectrum band to new users and for new uses.

Comments shall be submitted no later than 7th of October 2011 and consultative document can be accessed at the Ministry’s website.

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India: Consultation on IMT – Advance Mobile Wireless Broadband Services

Last 19^th of August, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issued a consultation paper on IMT – Advance Mobile Wireless Broadband Services.

Main issues described and consulted are suitable spectrum bands, block size of spectrum to be auctioned and maximum spectrum permitted to bidder among others.

Consultation can be checked at TRAI website.

Comments on the consultation paper are accepted until next 20^th of September.

Belgium: Draft decision concerning the frequency 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2 GHz bands

Belgian Institute for Postal services and Telecommunications (BIPT) issued last 11 of August the two following drafts:

• draft BIPT decision concerning the use of UMTS and LTE technologies in the bands 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2 GHz

• draft decision concerning the repartition of the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2 GHz bands

First draft decision provides technical parameters to ensure the coexistence of GSM / EDGE, UMTS / HSPA, LTE and WiMax in the frequency bands 900MHz and 1800MHz. Second one establishes the spectrum allocation between different mobile operators (Belgacom, Mobistar, KPN GB and Telenet-Telco Bidco) in the frequency bands 900MHz and 1800MHz only until November 26, 2015.  Spectrum allocation between November 27, 2015 and March 15, 2021 should be the subject of a later decision.

Comments to both draft decisions are accepted by BIPT until next 1st of October.

Austria: Results of public consultation on future frequency assignments for mobile broadband services

The Telekom-Control-Kommision (TKK, Austria's telecoms regulator) issued last 18th of July the results of the public consultation which was started on February 2011.

The aim of the public consultation on future frequency assignments and on the liberalization of the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency bands was to gather suggestions and to discuss possible future scenarios.

In response to the consultation, the Authority received a total of 18 comments which has been evaluated and used to issue the results.

The regulator is now planning a joint award of all three bands, 800 - 900 - 1800 MHz and plans to hold auctions in the summer of 2012 among other further steps.

All consultation documents can be accessed at the Authority's website.