Today, ANC has published for public consultation the draft decision on the harmonised use of the 880-915 MHz, 925-960 MHz, 1710-1747.5 MHz and 1805-1842.5 MHz bands. According to the draft decision, the operators of these frequency bands will be allowed to offer also 3G communications by means of UMTS systems (multimedia and data transmission services). This right of use will come into force as soon as the existing licences have been amended, under the legal provisions.
So far, these bands are allotted by licences to Orange Romania, Vodafone Romania and Cosmote Romanian Mobile Telecommunications. These operators use them in order to provide 2G services, which are specific to GSM systems.
This draft decision follows a decision and a series of reports adopted by the Electronic Communications Committee (ECC) within the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) on the compatibility between the UMTS and the GSM systems that operate in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency bands and the compatibility between UMTS 900/1800 MHz and the systems that operate in the adjacent bands. A Draft Decision on the harmonisation of the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency bands for terrestrial systems capable of providing pan-European electronic communications services in the Community, which is currently under adoption, came out as a result of the CEPT proceedings.
Moreover, the Order of the Minister of Communications and Information Technology no.432/2008 on the amendment of the National Table of Frequency Band Allocations was adopted, which set up the technical and legislative framework for the provision of 3G electronic communications networks in these frequency bands.
The draft decision is available on the ANC website. The interested persons are invited to send their comments and suggestions to the ANC headquarters (2 Delea Noua Street, sector 3, Bucharest) or directly to the ANC registration office, as well as to its territorial branches in the closest county capital city, no later than 21.11.2008. Comments may be sent, as well, by fax, to +40 21 307 54 02, or by e-mail to consultare@anrcti.ro.