23.02.2021

Having processed the data collected from providers of fixed public electronic communications networks regarding the localities in Romania where the end users may lack access to a fixed public ultra-fast broadband electronic communications network (i.e. download speed ≥100 Mbps), ANCOM has prepared a consolidated list of such localities. Since the current state of play may have changed compared to the situation resulting from the reports of fixed electronic communications network providers and from reports with previous reference data, the Authority submits this list to public consultation, for verifying its correctness.

Public consultation objective

With this consultation, ANCOM mainly aims at verifying the accuracy of the list of localities where residential end-users do not have access to a fixed public network providing ultra-fast broadband electronic communications.

"In addition to the objectives related to the national strategy and European funds, this consultation is aimed at improving information and increasing transparency. Raising the awareness of the telecom industry as a whole and of the general public regarding the localities without access to a fixed ultra-fast broadband network lays the ground for fostering private investment in the next three years’ roll-out of modern ultra-fast broadband networks in localities where this quality level is not available yet, so as to narrow the gaps and maximize the possibility for all citizens to have access to ultra-fast internet services, which is in line with the European targets, as well", said Eduard Lovin, vice-president of ANCOM.

According to the data available to ANCOM, 6,967 localities in Romania have access to fixed ultra-fast broadband networks while 6,769 localities lie outside the reach of such networks or are covered by networks enabling lower download speeds, as follows:

·         in 2,056 localities residential users have access only to fixed fast broadband networks (with a download speed ranging from 30 Mbps to 100 Mbps), or to fixed basic broadband networks (with a download speed ranging from 2 Mbps to 30 Mbps);

·         in 2,371 localities residential users have access only to fixed basic broadband networks (with a download speed ranging from 2 Mbps to 30 Mbps);

·         in 2,342 localities residential users lack access to any fixed public broadband electronic communications networks.

Legal basis

Ensuring access to at least one ultra-fast broadband network for all end-users is one of the European goals to be achieved by 2025, according to the European Commission Communication of 14 September 2016 entitled "Connectivity for a Competitive Digital Single Market - Towards a European Gigabit Society” (COM / 2016/0587).

Public consultation process

ANCOM’s lists regarding the coverage of the Romanian territory with public broadband electronic communications networks capable of providing electronic communication services at a fixed location, as well as the answering procedure, are available, in Romanian, here.

Interested persons who have relevant information and find inaccuracies between the data presented in the lists and the actual situation or persons who plan to invest in the coming years from private funds in localities where there is no fixed ultra-fast broadband public network are invited to express their intention, respectively to fill in the relevant fields within the lists of corresponding localities, as per the instructions in the answering procedure. Information and proposals can be sent until 22.03.2021, by e-mail to networks@ancom.ro.