17.12.2019

The National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM) has launched for public consultation its 2020 Action Plan. “2020 will be an important year for the electronic communications market in Romania, with substantial legislative changes lying ahead: the transposition of the European Electronic Communications Code and the awarding of frequency usage rights in the 5G bands. We also intend to continue the implementation of the Infrastructure Law and to implement measures in the universal postal service field”, declared Sorin GRINDEANU, president of ANCOM. 

Frequency management and administration

In the first half of 2020, ANCOM will organise the selection procedure for awarding frequency usage rights for the radio spectrum available in the 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 1500 MHz, 2600 MHz, 3400-3600 MHz bands, for the provision of broadband public electronic communications networks and services.  

The Authority also plans to extend the validity of the frequency usage rights in the 2100 MHz band, which ends in March 2020, and to launch a public consultation on the opportunity of awarding frequency usage rights for providing MFCN public networks in millimetre bands.

Monitoring and control of frequency usage

Beside the measurements provided in the annual monitoring plan for the surveillance of the effective usage of the frequency spectrum, ANCOM will conduct a campaign for assessing involuntary roaming situations in border areas.

Moreover, the Authority will continue the measurements campaign with a view to updating the mobile coverage map.

Transposition of the European Electronic Communications Code

In line with Romania’s obligations as an EU member state as regards the transposition into the national legislation of the provisions of the Directive establishing the European Electronic Communications Code, ANCOM aims to draw up a draft normative act in this respect, not later than 31 March 2020.

Infrastructure Law no. 159/2016

The multiannual project of implementing the Infrastructure Law will continue in 2020. Next year, the Authority plans to set indicative tariffs for access to network operators’ poles and to approve the conditions for access to the physical infrastructure deployed by the local public authorities.

Furthermore, ANCOM intends to lay down a new technical proposal regarding the technical rules provided by the Infrastructure Law, and to continue the mapping of broadband networks.

Regulation of electronic communications services

With a view to fostering competition, in 2020 ANCOM will review the wholesale market for services of access to infrastructure elements and the market for broadband access services.

ANCOM also envisages reviewing the general authorisation regime for the provision of electronic communications networks and services and amending ANCOM Decision no. 333/2013 on the collection of statistical data in the electronic communications field.

Regulation of postal services

Concerning the universal service in the postal services field, the Authority plans to implement the regulatory measures required for setting tariff caps and tariff amendment control formulas for the tariffs charged by the universal service provider. Moreover, the Framework-Agreement and the Rules for postal services within the scope of universal service will be updated. With a view to defining the geographical area covered by the postal services for which the universal service provider has been designated, in 2020 ANCOM will list the localities situated in exceptional geographical conditions.

With a view to transposing the provisions of Government ordinance no. 27/2019 in to the secondary legislation, ANCOM will update the general authorisation regime for the provision of postal services and the decision on collecting postal statistical data.

Public consulation

ANCOM’s draft Action Plan for 2020 is available, in Romanian, here. The interested parties are invited to submit their comments and suggestions, by 16 January 2020, at the ANCOM headquarters (2 Delea Noua Street, Bucharest 3), directly to the ANCOM Registry Office or by means of ANCOM’s regional divisions. Comments may also be sent by fax to +40 372 845 402 or by e-mail to consultare@ancom.org.ro.