Multiband Auction successfully concluded
Multi-volume auction 2020 ended successfully
The multiband auction was successfully concluded on September 11th, 2020. All frequency packages from the 700 MHz, 1500 MHz and 2100 MHz ranges were awarded. The bonus system used for the first time resulted in a total of 1,702 cadastral communities receiving high-performance mobile broadband coverage across the board. That is around 80% of all areas in Austria that have so far been poorly or not at all supplied. An additional focus of the supply is on transport routes (road, rail). The net auction proceeds are around 202 million euros. The regulatory authority also supports network expansion with long terms, a liberal sharing framework and promotion of cooperation models.
Public Consultation on mm-Waves
The 26 GHz band (24.25-27.50 GHz) provides a very high bandwidth for classic mobile phone use. However, that band also has a very narrow range (typically less than 100 m) and can therefore be used in areas with high user density and in places with very high capacity requirements. The consultation expected market inputs on applications, coexistence and compatibility. Below are links to the consultation document, comments received and a summary.
Ensuring the security of 5G networks
The regulatory authority has been dealing intensively with the security and integrity of networks and services in the telecommunications sector for over 10 years. With regard to the security of 5G, RTR is currently involved in European and national efforts to ensure the security of 5G networks. In particular, the 5G Security Toolbox should be mentioned, where RTR was able to play a key role both in the development of the proposed measures at European level and in the subsequent national implementation. In addition to the work in the context of the national industry risk analysis, the Telecommunications Network Security Ordinance 2020 (TK-NSiV 2020) published by RTR in July 2020 should be emphasized, which among other things regulates the framework conditions with regard to network security for 5G network operators in detail.
BEREC Activities
The Regulatory Authority, within the framework of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC), deals with the regulatory challenges of the introduction of 5G. The topic related with the introduction of the new mobile communications standard is "Enabling 5G and promoting innovation in network technologies". This work package is one of the five cornerstones of the BEREC Medium-Term Strategy 2018-2020 and therefore prominently represented in the current BEREC work program 2020.
The following topics with reference to 5G will be addressed this year according to the BEREC Work Program 2020.
- Impact of 5G on regulation
- Security issues related to 5G implementation
- Peer review process
- Infrastructure sharing
Further information on BEREC and the related activities of the regulatory authority can be found under the following link.