Today, July 28, 2008, ANRCTI published its final report on the results of the measurements carried out in order to check compliance with the coverage terms provided in the licences for the use of radio frequencies (3G licences) for the provision of third generation public mobile communications networks and services by RCS&RDS and Telemobil, the winners of the last selection procedure organised in this sense.
“The first stage of 3G networks roll-out ended as of June 30, 2008. According to the measurements, the radio signal was assessed at the parameters established by the licence, throughout all the measurement sites, according to the commitments the two operators undertook through their offers. Thus, RCS&RDS covered the population of 176 towns and approximately 2,400 km national roads, whereas Telemobil implemented its network in 19 towns and covered 1,900 km national roads, Dan Georgescu, the President of ANRCTI, declared.
These two operators won their 3G licences in October 2007, following a comparative selection procedure, being committed to the most extensive network development obligations, according to the offers they submitted. The Terms of Reference provide three 1.5-year network roll-out stages. At the end of each stage, compliance with the respective obligations is to be assessed. The two winning operators assumed the obligation to cover, by the end of the first stage, the population of 176 towns and approximately 2,400 km national roads (RCS&RDS), respectively 19 towns and 1,900 km national roads (Telemobil).
At the end of the first stage, June 30, 2008, the Authority initiated on-site measurements using the radio inspection integrated system – RADIS. The measurements were conducted on a representative sample of localities and roads, between July 1 and 20, 2008, and involved 20 ANRCTI specialists.
The RCS&RDS sample consisted of 35 localities (Adjud, Aiud, Bacau, Baia Mare, Basarabi, Brasov, Bucharest, Buzau, Caransebes, Cluj Napoca, Constanta, Craiova, Drobeta Turnu Severin, Eforie, Focsani, Galati, Gaesti, Hateg, Iasi, Lugoj, Mangalia, Medgidia, Oradea, Pitesti, Ploiesti, Ramnicu Valcea, Roman, Sebes, Sibiu, Simeria, Slobozia, Tg. Mures, Timisoara, Tg. Frumos and Turda) and 11 roads encompassing 1,757.8 km.
Insofar as Telemobil is concerned, the sample consisted of 16 localities (Bacau, Baia Mare, Brasov, Bucharest, Buzau, Cluj Napoca, Constanta, Craiova, Galati, Iasi, Oradea, Pitesti, Ploiesti, Sibiu, Tg. Mures and Timisoara) and 20 roads along which this operator was committed to covering 552.8 km.
Most of the field levels assessed by measurement exceeded the levels established by licence. In localities, the ANRCTI measurements covered the main avenues, streets and squares, as well as lanes and outskirts, so that the respective localities should be checked as homogeneously as possible. The measuring teams aimed at checking as much of the locality area as possible. The sample roads were covered at a maximum speed of 80 km/h, so that – for each 100 meters – the 3G receiver should capture at least 4 measurements.
The second stage will end on December 31, 2009. By this date, RCS&RDS is committed to covering 1,400 km more national roads, whereas Telemobil is to cover 43 towns and 2,000 km more national roads.