Moldova's telecom regulator Anrceti issued to Moldcell and Orange Moldova two licences for the use of 2500-2690 MHz band frequencies for the provision of LTE services. The licences were issued following the two operators' requests. The two companies were granted the licences after they transferred to the state budget the EUR 10 million licence fee in MDL. In a decree, the government recommended that Anrceti issue by the end of 2012 licences for the use of three blocks of 2x20 MHz from the 2500-2690 MHz band through direct allocation to the existing mobile operators in Moldova.
At the end of September, Anrceti delivered to Orange Moldova, Moldcell and Moldtelecom a call for applications for 4G licences. If the three sub-bands of radio frequencies mentioned above are not applied for by 31 December 2012 or additional radio frequencies are requested from the 2500-2690 MHz frequency bands, those will be assigned by Anrceti under a contest.
The licences obtained by Moldcell and Orange Moldova attest their rights to use one sub-band each from the 2500-2690 MHz frequency band for the provision of IMT-2000/UMTS (WCDMA) and/or LTE and/or IMT-Advanced technologies.
According to the licence conditions, Moldcell and Orange Moldova are bound to ensure the provision of the minimum set of 4G services (data transmission, including mobile internet access) and launch these services no later than one year after the licence is issued. These companies are also required to cover, through their own 4G networks, at least 25 percent of populated areas of Moldova with 4G services by 31 December 2015.
