Slovak mobile operators have legally assigned frequencies for 5G
At the end of last year, Slovak mobile operators launched the first 5G network coverage in some areas of Slovakia, which should be extended to other regions this year. Office for the Regulation of Electronic Communications and Postal Services (RÚ) at the end of the year, it legally allocated them frequencies for 5G, which they competed in in a tender in the form of an electronic auction.
Mobile carriers must meet several conditions
For mobile operators, this decision imposes a number of obligations. Authorization holders are obliged to start using the allocated frequencies from the 700 MHz frequency band for the permitted purpose within two years from the date of entry into force of the decision. Operators are required to build a 5G public mobile electronic communications network with a 5G NR (New Radio) radio access network in an architecture that meets the requirements of the ETSI specifications.
Holders of permits (700 MHz) are obliged to ensure the coverage of all operated sections of the D1 – D4 motorways and all operated sections of the R1 – R9 expressways by the 5G network until 31.12.2025. In addition, all operated sections of the pan-European railway corridors IV.– VI. and inland waterways of international importance – corridor no. VII. It also includes the main inland waterway E80 – Danube (outside the part of the waterway forming the state border).
Agreed national roaming can help them with the conditions
Mobile operators can meet these criteria through jointly agreed national roaming. In such a case, the fulfillment shall be credited on the part of the providing operator as well as on the part of the operator using national roaming. Holders of licenses (700 MHz) are obliged to ensure coverage of at least 95% of the population of each regional city of the Slovak Republic by the 5G network until 31.12.2025. 5G network until 31.12.2027.
Where network sharing is used to meet the development criteria and coverage conditions, the shared network shall be counted towards the development criteria and coverage conditions of all relevant network sharing participants. Of course, if the frequencies used in these networks are allocated to all the operators involved in the sharing.
How much did the operators have to deposit in the auction to obtain the 5G network frequency?
The first part of the payment for frequencies from the frequency bands 700 MHz (5G), 900 MHz and 1800 MHz in the amount of EUR 57.665 million was still included in the cash security in 2020. This was passed by the permit holders as part of their offer. In the case of the operators O2 and Orange Slovensko, the first part of the payment for frequencies from the 700 MHz (5G) band amounted to EUR 16 million. In the case of Slovak Telekom, an amount of EUR 24.42 million was set off in 2020 from a security deposit paid by the license holder as part of its bid. The second part of the payment (half of the remaining amount) is due by 30.06.2021 and the third part of the payment is due by 31.03.2022.
