The five operators that participated in Romania's spectrum auction organised by telecom regulator Ancom have won a combined 485 MHz spectrum in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2600 MHz bands. The increases the spectrum resources available to operators by 77 percent, while also supporting the introduction of 4G technology and more efficient distribution of the 900 MHz band. The licence fees totaling EUR 682.14 million need to be paid by 30 November 2012 or 30 June 2013, depending on the frequency blocks. The five operators that took part in the auction were 2K Telecom, Cosmote Romania, Orange Romania, RCS & RDS and Vodafone Romania.
According to Ancom's president Catalin Marinescu, the winning by RCS & RDS and 2K Telecom of some national telecommunication licences and the pledge of three of the spectrum auction's winners to host virtual mobile operators will intensify the competition on the local mobile telecommunication market.
OTE subsidiary Cosmote won one block in the 800 MHz band, two blocks in the 900 MHz band, five blocks in the 1800 MHz band and two blocks in the 2600 MHz (FDD) band, valid from 2014 through 2029, for an amount of EUR 179.88 million. Cosmote thus renewed its rights over the spectrum portfolio previously held and increased its holdings by 58 percent.
Orange Romania obtained two blocks in the 800 MHz band, two blocks in the 900 MHz band, four blocks in the 1800 MHz band and four blocks in the 2600 MHz (FDD) band, valid from 2014 through 2029. Furthermore, Orange Romania won short-term licences for five blocks in the 900 MHz band and three blocks in the 1800 MHz band valid between 1 January 2013 and 5 April 2014. Orange Romania grew its spectrum portfolio by 84 percent, for an amount of EUR 227.14 million in licence fees.
RCS & RDS won one block in the 900 MHz band, valid from 2014 through 2029, for which it will pay EUR 40 million. With this licence in the 900 MHz band, RCS & RDS increased its spectrum portfolio by 29 percent.
Vodafone Romania obtained two blocks in the 800 MHz band, two blocks in the 900 MHz band, six blocks in the 1800 MHz band and one block of 15 MHz in the 2600 MHz (TDD) band, valid from 2014 through 2029. In addition, Vodafone Romania won short-term licences for five blocks in the 900 MHz band and three blocks in the 1800 MHz band, valid between 1 January 2013 and 5 April 2014. Vodafone Romania's spectrum holdings are now 78 percent larger, after paying EUR 228.52 million for the new licences.
2K Telecom, the new operator on the market, won two blocks of 15 MHz in the 2600 MHz (TDD) band, valid from 2014 through 2029, for which it will pay EUR 6.60 million.
