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Romania to open 3.6 GHz spectrum for WiMAX networks
Removal of electronic communication barriers to occur through the issuance of three broadband wireless licenses.
Romania's National Radiocommunications Company (SNR) announced it will
organize a tender to purchase EUR19.39 million of communications equipment in
exchange for offering two commercial licenses in the 3.6~3.76 GHz frequency
band. The spectrum will be used for the development of WiMAX broadband
wireless networks across the country, including rural areas and efficient use of
broadband spectrum.
The two licenses to be issued occupy 114 MHz between 3.6~3.8 GHz (one at
3.6~3.657 GHz and the other at 3.7~3.757). A third license will be
retained by SNR for operation of broadband wireless services under the Radiocom
brand. The spectrum was previously allocated for the microwave
transmission of video signals. "Currently, these frequency bands are used
by the SNR to retransmit radio and TV programs," said SNR General Manager Mircea
Cazan. "After buying and putting the equipment into operation, the company
will free the frequency bands in order to use them to provide telecommunications
services and introduce technologies such as WiMAX."
SNR provides broadcasting and data transmission services through its: national
microwave network; national radio and TV transmitters and transponders network;
and its digital satellite earth stations. It also provides transmission
capabilities for public and mobile telephony, paging, trunked radio, cable TV,
and data.
In 2001, SNR launched Romania's first pilot project for point-to-multipoint data
transmission in 26 GHz spectrum. It also initiated a project to modernize
and expand its broadcast infrastructure using Harris and Cisco equipment.
In January 2002, SNR inaugurated a new platform at Cheia satellite earth station
to increase data transmission capacity and offer VoIP services via satellite.
Privatization of SNR from a government-owned telecommunications provider is
underway.
By Jeff Orr, ORR Technology, LLC
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