Preliminary assessment of the third payment request of Romania (2024)

                   Related Measure: Transition to EU 2025 connectivity targets and stimulate
Number: 148
                   private investment for the deployment of very high-capacity networks
Name of the Milestone: Recommendations from the EU connectivity toolbox are implemented
Qualitative Indicator: N/A                                                      Time: Q3 2022
Context:

Milestone #148 is part of reform C7.R2, which aims to accelerate the national roll-out of 5G networks, in accordance with security regulations, and provide broadband coverage for white areas (small rural municipalities, isolated localities, disadvantaged inhabited areas), tackling the rural – urban digital divide, reducing the administrative burden and streamlining procedures and fees, creating the prerequisites for equal access to digital services and internet access.

Milestone #148 requires the implementation of 12 out of 39 recommendations from the EU Connectivity Toolbox.

Milestone #148 is the reform’s third milestone, and it follows the completion of milestone #146 for the entry into force of the 5G network security law, positively assessed in the context of Romania’s first payment request, and milestone #147 for the publication of the call for tender for the authorisation of telecommunications operators to grant 5G licenses, positively assessed in the context of Romania’s second payment request. Milestone #149 which is also included under this payment request calls for the assignment of the rights of use of radio spectrum and is the last step in the implementation of this reform.

Evidence provided:

The following evidence was provided:

  i.    Summary document duly justifying how the milestone (including the relevant elements of
        the milestone, as listed in the description of milestone and of the corresponding measure in
        the Council Implementing Decision annex) was satisfactorily fulfilled;
  ii.   Common Union Toolbox for Connectivity (hereinafter, ‘EU Connectivity Toolbox’):
        https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/connectivity-toolbox;
 iii.   The draft roadmap on the implementation at national level of the Common Toolkit for
        Connectivity (‘the roadmap’) and the identical roadmap adopted by Government
        Memorandum on 10 November 2021
 iv.    Government Decision No. 1139/2022 on establishing the amount of the minimum license
        fee for the granting of rights to use the radio frequencies available in the radio frequency
        bands 703-733 MHz/758-788 MHz, 738-753 MHz, 1452-1492 MHz, 2550-2570 MHz/2670-
        2690 MHz and 3400-3800 MHz published in the Official Journal No. 906 on 14 September

        2022.
  v.    Draft decision establishing the minimum amount of the license fee for granting rights of use
        of radio frequencies available in the 700 MHz, 1500 MHz, 2600 MHz and 3400-3800 MHz
        bands, as well as the conditions for payment of the license fee, submitted for public
        consultation            from           13           to         27          July        2022:
        https://www.ancom.ro/uploads/forms_files/Proiect_HG_taxa_de_licenta1657713059.pdf;
 vi.    Results of the competitive selection procedure for awarding usage rights for the spectrum
        resources available in the 800 MHz, 2600 MHz and 3400-3600 MHz bands was launched on
        11 October 2021: https://www.ancom.ro/en/licita539ia-din-acest-an-pentru-alocarea-de-
        spectru-s-a-finalizat_6392;