National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology of the Republic of Moldova

The National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI) has placed on its website for public consultations, four draft Administrative Board Decisions for the auction of licenses for the use of radio frequencies 1900-1920 MHz, 1920-1980/2110-2170 MHz and 2010-2025 MHz, conventionally named the 2100 MHz frequency band, in the provision of public electronic communications terrestrial mobile services. The consultation will last through July 30, 2015, which is the deadline for recommendations on the proposed draft documents.

All the four draft documents are related to the auction for issuing licenses to use radio frequencies in the 2100 MHz band. ANRCETI, pursuant to the Radio Spectrum Management Program for 2013-2020, approved by Government Decree no. 116 of 11.02.2013, with subsequent amendments, has the liability to put up for an auction, in 2015, two licenses for the use of radio frequencies available in the above mentioned band.

The first draft document provides for the limitation of the number of licenses for the use of radio frequencies in the mentioned band, while the other three – for approval of amendments to the Terms of Reference for the auction, approved by Administrative Board Decision no. 50 of 12.09.2013, License Conditions, approved by ANRCETI Licensing Commission in the meeting of 30.07.2008 and standard License Conditions for the use of 1900-1920 MHz, 1920-1980/2110-2170 MHz and 2010-2025 MHz sub-bands in the provision of public electronic communications terrestrial mobile services.

The draft decision on limiting the number of 2100 MHz licenses provides for one license for sub-bands 1909,9-1914,9 MHz (5 MHz, TDD regime – time-division duplexing) and 1964,9-1979,7 MHz/2154,9-2169,7 MHz (2x14,8 MHz, FDD regime – frequency-division), a total of 34,6 MHz and once license for sub-band 2010-2025 MHz (15 MHz, TDD regime – time-division duplexing). The minimum bid for every license was established by Government Decree no. 316 of 02.06.2015.

According to the Explanatory Note no.1, the amendments to the Terms of Reference for the auction refer mainly to the application of technological neutrality in 2100 MHz frequency band, to the principles of establishing license validity, to license fees for the providers who already hold licenses for the use of radio frequencies in 2100 MHz band.

With reference to the proposed amendments to License Conditions and standard Special License Conditions for the use of frequencies and channels of 2100 MHz band, Explanatory Note no.2 shows that they will ensure the implementation of technological neutrality in this frequency band. The Note states that ANRCETI proposes a new version of standard Special License Conditions.

Interested persons are invited to submit comments and proposals to the publicly consulted documents, in written form, to postal address: 134, Stefan cel Mare bd., MD-2012, Chisinau, by fax: 022-222-885 or e-mail: office@anrceti.md. Contact phone: 022-251-312.

July 14, 2015