Anacom wants to know if there is a market for new broadband services … – publico

                 

                         
                     

                 

 
                         

The communications regulator (Anacom) want to hear what you think the market on spectrum existence available to provide Internet services without high-speed wireless. Or not there is interest in launching new ultra-fast mobile internet services in the 3.4-3.8 GHz frequency bands? What new applications and services can arise from the use of this electromagnetic spectrum?

                     

                         This is what seeks to know the entity led by Fátima Barros by the consultation announced on Tuesday, which will be available until May 25, and for which expects to receive contributions from manufacturers, operators and other public and private entities. The outcome of this consultation will leave the decision on the fate of “the available spectrum in the frequency band 3.4-3.8 GHz, suitable to be occupied by broadband networks without high-speed wire, which will allow the provision of innovative electronic communications services, “says the press release of the regulatory body.

This may be an opportunity for companies that are in the fixed and have no provision of mobile communications, but also to other entities who are not even in the telecommunications sector, such as local authorities, some associations or universities, so they could create their own regional nature of networks, for example.

The query results are not binding (or is, not affect any future decision by the regulator), but are a way of Anacom feel the pulse to the market. For now, everything is open. Should the spectrum be made available by auction or by tender? Should access this feature be sealed to some entities? These are some of the issues raised by ANACOM in the public consultation

The governor explained that the spectrum that is available in the frequency range of 3.4 -. 3,8GHz “includes the spectrum is left BWA auction [broadband wireless access], conducted in 2009, the spectrum resulting from the revocation of the rights to use frequencies of Onitelecom and Sonaecom (formerly Novis) and the spectrum previously assigned to PTC (now MEO) and it was posted on Following the process of refarming [rewrite the rules of use] FWA [FWA]. “

The use of spectrum, which is generally defined as a scarce natural resource and a public good, cost the telecommunications around EUR 50 million in the sector last year after the government has outlined a proposal of the majority of the deputies to create a contribution to the telecommunications (similar to that in the energy) with a worsening ten million of the fees that companies pay regularly to Anacom by the use of frequencies.