AGCOM seeks input on the 1427–1452MHz and 1492–1517MHz ranges, and on part of the 3.4–3.6GHz band.
Background: Italy is one of the three countries in the EU where the core part of the L–band (1452–1492MHz) has been awarded to mobile operators, the other two being Germany and the UK. In 2015, Telecom Italia and Vodafone each obtained 20MHz in that band.
The new consultation: This week, AGCOM launched a call for inputs on the rest of the band, based on a decision of the European Commission of 2018 which requires member states to make the spectrum available. The consultation aims to gauge market demand for those two bands of spectrum, for terrestrial systems to provide electronic communications services in Supplemental Down Link (SDL) mode. The part of the band already awarded in 2015 is also Down Link only; AGCOM notes this choice was made to tackle the imbalance between uplink and downlink data traffic. AGCOM’s consultation asks stakeholders to provide information about standardisation, commercialisation and use of apparatus in that band; and, where relevant, to declare how much of that spectrum they would be interested in acquiring. AGCOM also takes the opportunity to seek new input on the 3.4–3.6GHz bands, parts of which were already awarded in 2018. This is an opportunity for stakeholders to flag any additional demand for spectrum in that band, and to propose destinations of use.
Next steps: The consultation is open for 30 days from 24 April 2019.
