Swedish postal and telecoms regulator PTS said the government has decided to keep the 694-790 MHz frequency range available for terrestrial television broadcasting until 31 May 2018. These airwaves were to have been freed up for mobile services from 01 April 2017, but a change in security policy means it is now scrapping the auction that was due to start on 01 December 2016.
Acting director-general of the PTS, Catarina Wretman, said the government attributed its decision to a changed security policy situation, adding that there is an investigation under way into an advanced and secure broadband system for those involved in public order, health, security and defence.
Telia Company called the decision a backwards step in Swedish digitisation, at a time when mobile data consumption is rising by more than 80 percent year. Without more spectrum, Sweden risks negative development, it said. Using the 700 MHz band for mobile broadband and mobile telephony is decisive for Sweden to take its next step in digitisation, it added.
It sees the need for the government to investigate security but this need not hold up the auction. CEO Helene Barnekow said the authorities should sit down with operators to discuss solutions for emergency services.
