Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2012
398. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform what he has projected as the expected yield from the sale of the 28 blocks of spectrum frequencies by ComReg; and if he has given consideration towards investing this in capital projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47663/12]
View answerI understand from my colleague, the Minster for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, that the management of the radio spectrum is a statutory function of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) under the Communications Regulation Act, 2002 as amended. The level of spectrum fees that will be generated by the Multi-Band Spectrum Award process will be determined by the eventual level of demand expressed in the auction. I am advised that section 2.2.5 of the ComReg’s Information Memorandum (Document 12/52) provides, among other things, for the following reserve prices for spectrum lots being made available in the auction: €10.81 million for each lot in the 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands across both “time slices” (noting that 13 such lots are being made available); and €5.4 million for each lot in the 1800 MHz band across both time slices (noting that 15 such lots are being made available). The process of awarding of spectrum rights is entirely a matter for ComReg. In light of this and the extremely commercially sensitive nature of the process, I cannot comment further on the process which is ongoing at this time. Fees which are received by ComReg for spectrum access are transferred directly to the Exchequer in accordance with provisions of Section 30 of the Communications Regulation Act 2002, as amended. Proceeds from the sale will be taken into the Central Fund and used to fund Exchequer-financed expenditure.
