ANACOM has given approval to the new version of the 2007 National Frequency Allocation Plan (NFAP), as set out in article 16 of the Electronics Communications Law (Law no. 5/2004 of 10 February), and by determination of 25 July 2007.
The 2007 NFAP updates the version which is currently in force (NFAP 2005-2006), in particular with regard to the information on usage, with reference to 30 June 2007, and the information on reserved frequency bands and frequency bands to made available in 2007, as well as the section on spectrum use that is exempt from radio licensing.
In general terms and with respect to issues of technological neutrality and flexible spectrum use, the market has demonstrated a clear interest in promoting the adoption of these concepts. Accordingly, ANACOM will maintain the approach of progressive adoption of technological neutrality, limited only by the need to guard against interference, to ensure compliance with the standards relevant to building a single European market, and the need to respect international agreements to which Portugal is party, while always respecting the need to guarantee an efficient and effective use of the spectrum. As such, although the adoption of the principles of technological neutrality may not be applicable in certain bands, the intention is that this should be the exception rather than the rule.
Consideration was given to the comments received on the allocation tables (Annex 1) and the publication of frequency band uses (Annex 2), and the final version of the 2007 NFAP has been updated to reflect the uses of frequencies as at 30 June 2007.
With respect to the comments on the reservation of frequencies (Annex 3), translated into expressions of interest, especially on the introduction of BWA (3400-3600 MHz and 3600-3800 MHz), radio usage rights (7 GHz / 13 GHz / 18 GHz) and the introduction of DDT (470-862 MHz), it is ANACOM’s position that these should be submitted to autonomous processes.
It is further noted that, on sounding out the market over possible expressions of interest in the use of the spectrum (Annex 5), there were several expressions of interest in the exploitation of frequencies for the operation of the terrestrial mobile service in the 450 MHz, 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency bands, both by active mobile operators and by operators with potential interest in entering the market, varying according to the different frequency bands cited.
With respect to access to the available spectrum, ANACOM’s position is that the way forward should be equally compatible, both with the possibility of the frequency bands cited in these expressions of interest being used by entities not yet present in the market – seen as positive from the point of view of accountability and encouraging the growth of effective competition in the market – and the possibility that current operators might need additional spectrum, enabling them to provide innovative services and increase the efficiency of their investments, so benefiting end users.
The final report on the general consultation procedure subsequent to the determination of 8 March 2007, to which this document was subject, forms an integral part of this determination, together with the action plan contained therein. This report provides the grounds for ANACOM’s options and an analysis of the responses received from the following entities: CATVP - TV Cabo Portugal, Grupo Portugal Telecom (in the name of and representing the companies of Portugal Telecom, SGPS, PT - Comunicações, PT PRIME - Soluções Empresariais de Telecomunicações e Sistemas, PT - Acesso de Internet Wi-Fi, and TMN - Telecomunicações Móveis Nacionais), Grupo SGC Telecom, iBand, SARL, OnAir, OniTelecom - Infocomunicações, RADIOMÓVEL - Telecomunicações, Sonaecom, SGPS (in the name of its subsidiaries OPTIMUS - Telecomunicações, S.A. and NOVIS TELECOM), Vodafone PORTUGAL - Comunicações Pessoais. Independent contributions were further received from TMN and PTC with respect to specific points of the NFAP.
Consult:
- NFAP 2007 https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=507354
See also:
- ANACOM approves 2007 version of NFAP https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=507428
