Regulatory authority paves the way for efficient use of frequencies and embarks on refarming process in autumn

Press release dated 3 May 2013

RTR intends to actively take action towards a liberalisation of the frequencies hitherto reserved for GSM (900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands) immediately after the multiband auction has been completed. In the view of RTR, benefits for the economy can only be realised if as many GSM frequencies as possible can be used for 3G or 4G technologies. "From our point of view, the strong defragmentation of the present allocations in the GSM bands is a major barrier to an efficient use of frequencies. In the long term, the multiband auction will lead to frequency allocations that are compatible with new technologies. However, the existing GSM licences continue to apply for several years," said Georg Serentschy, Managing Director of RTR's Telecommunications and Postal Services Division, commenting on the required refarming of existing GSM frequencies. "RTR therefore intends to carry out efficient defragmentation efforts in collaboration with operators already before the expiration of the current rights of use and will give the go-ahead for a refarming process as soon as the multiband auction is completed," Serentschy announced.

Please find more detailed information on the multiband auction on RTR’s website at https://www.rtr.at/en/tk/multibandauktion.