Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 October 2012
395. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the auction and bidding for 4G spectrum will take place; the timeframe for that process and the persons likely to be in the bidding; and his views on the proposed 4G roll out. [46014/12]
View answerThe management of the radio spectrum is a statutory function of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) under the Communications Regulation Act, 2002 as amended. ComReg set out the process it has adopted for the award of rights of use for radio frequencies in the 800Mhz, 900Mhz and 1800Mhz bands in its information memorandum and associated documents (ComReg document 12/52). These documents also set out the reasons, analysis and other material relied upon by ComReg in support of its substantive decisions regarding the minimum coverage and rollout requirements for the rights of use to be granted in the award process. This award process is a vital step in allowing for the next generation of advance mobile services to be made available for Irish consumers and businesses from next year. The process of awarding of spectrum rights is entirely a matter for ComReg and in light of this and the extremely commercially sensitive nature of the process, I cannot comment further on its progress at this time.
