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) exposed on its web site, for public consultation, draft (doc. in state language) Administrative Board Decision on limiting the number of licenses for the use of radio frequencies in the bands 791-821/832-862 MHz, 890-915/935-960 MHz and 1710-1785/1805-1880 MHz. The consultation will run through July 2, 2014, which is the deadline for submitting recommendations on the project.

The Information Note (doc. in state language) states that the draft decision was developed pursuant to the Law on Electronic Communications, which states that the number of licenses for the use of radio frequencies is limited to exceptional situations, when the restriction is necessary for the efficient use of limited resources or to avoid dangerous interference of radio frequencies, to ensure competition in the cell mobile market, maximum benefits for users and ensure the continuity of terrestrial cell mobile telephone services, provided under authorizations in the Republic of Moldova. The document aims to ensure the implementation of the Program for Spectrum Management for 2013 - 2020, approved by Government Decision no. 116 of 11.02.2013.

According to the draft document, the number of licenses for the use of radio frequencies from 800, 900 and 1800 MHz bands shall be limited by ANRCETI, as follows:
- 3 (three) licenses for the use of radio frequencies from 791-821/832-862 MHz band (FDD - frequency-division duplex, total width 20 MHz (2x10 MHz) each;
- 3 (three) licenses for the use of radio frequencies from 890-915/935-960 MHz bands (FDD - frequency-division duplex; two licenses of 20 MHz (2x10MHz) width each and one license of 10 MHz (2x5MHz) width;
- 3 (three) licenses for the use of radio frequencies from 1710-1785/1805-1880 MHz band, (FDD - frequency-division duplex, of 50 MHz (2x25 MHz) width each.

The draft document provides for the licenses to be granted directly to providers that already have networks in place and are duly authorized to provide terrestrial mobile networks and services in the Republic of Moldova, upon their requests submitted to ANRCETI, before July 23, 2014. Where several applicants request licenses for the same frequency sub-band(s), ANRCETI will be entitled to select the beneficiary of the license by drawing lots in the public license issuance session.

ANRCETI will issue one license per applicant, which will give him the right to use a frequency sub-band from every band 791-821/832-862 MHz, 890-915/935-960 MHz or 1710-1785/1805-1880 MHz, as requested, following payment by the applicant of the full amount of license fee, within 30 days from the date of the license issuance decision, as set out in section 15 of the Programme for Spectrum Management for 2013-2020.

Licenses unclaimed before July 23, 2014 or not paid for within the deadlines set by ANRCETI, will be subject to auction, by competitive selection procedure, in the timeframe July - November 2014.
Interested stakeholders are invited to contribute with comments and recommendations on the draft decision, in written form, by post to: 134 Stefan cel Mare, bd, MD-2012, Chisinau, by fax: 022 222 885 or e-mail: office@anrceti.md. Phone numbers: 022 251 312, 022 251 337.

June 17, 2014