Slovenia launches multi-band spectrum auction

The Slovenian telecoms regulator APEK published a tender for the award of radio frequencies for providing public communications services (OJ RS, No. 114/2013, p 3515, 31 December 2013). Spectrum in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz and 2600 MHz bands is included in the award process as set out in the following table.

A timeline of Slovenian 4G spectrum assignment process

Slovenian lawmakers adopted a decision to assign frequencies in the 800 MHz band, a so called digital dividend, for mobile broadband in 2007. They were ambitious and wanted to launch mobile broadband services in the 800 MHz band already in 2011. Six years later and more than seven years after the adoption of the underlying strategy, we are still far from assigning frequencies. We have not got even a complete mobile auction information memorandum. The Slovenian National Regulatory Authority (NRA) requires changes in auctioning provisions of the recently adopted Electronic Communications Act, which may lead to further delays.

Europe needs a coherent and coordinated radio spectrum policy

The mobile broadband has become the most dynamic ICT market and much more important than the underlying technology. It has a transformational impact, driving far-reaching social and economic transformations through new services and changes in consumer habits. It is changing the way we live and work. Europe was once a leader in mobile communications, but has in recent years fallen behind South Korea, Japan, Australia and United States, where markets now enjoy much higher penetration rates of 4G mobile broadband communications than in Europe.