Minister for IT and Foreign Trade Raul Siem has started the consultation process on the first 5G competition regulation, involving the major telecomms companies. Siem stressed that this was an initial stage, with more development pending an agreement to be signed with Russia.
The 5G-3.6GHz frequency band is to be divided into four parts, one permit per part, as equally as possible.
"Based on the public consultation, we can see that in the conditions of restrictions, the best option is to put four permits that are as equal as possible up for the frequency competition," Siem said. "This type of solution will also ensure a more level playing field for all permit recipients," he added.
Siem said this will open the 5G market to competition and provide more choice for consumers, with price and quality gains.
The move is the first stage in the 5G network construction, however, Siem said, which should see larger blocks than the current 50/50 MHz ones (one of each) in place now, after a planned coordination agreement to be signed with Russia, which will boost these to 90-100 MHz blocks.