The state aid scheme to be implemented by the Ministry aims at achieving the specific objective O. 2.1 "Extending and roll-out of high-speed broadband communications infrastructure" - Priority Axis 2 of the Competitiveness Operational Programme. The public funds will be used to build electronic communications networks and, possibly, the associated facilities necessary to provide high-speed broadband electronic communications services in the localities that are disadvantaged in this regard.

More information is available, in Romanian, on the MCSI website.

 

The list under the public consultation was based on the yearly and half-yearly reports of the electronic communications operators regarding the localities where they own fixed and mobile Internet access connections.

From the number of localities thus obtained, those where the existence of access technologies that allow connections at fixed locations with "best effort" data transfer rates of at least 30 Mbps, and where the existence of fixed fibre optic and VDSL copper connections was declared, as well as those subject to public intervention - through various funding measures - were excluded.

The remaining localities are those where public intervention measures in the field of electronic communications have not been implemented or are currently not under way. In addition, these localities are not in the eligible area for public intervention measures in the field of electronic communications according to the NRDP 2014-2020.

Out of the 4,117 analysed localities, 1,997 are served by an electronic communications network that can provide connections with "best effort" download speeds of at least 2 Mbps and maximum 30 Mbps, and 1,075 localities are served by at least one 4G (LTE) mobile access network.

ANCOM invites all interested entities (electronic communications operators, local or central public authorities, other economic agents, natural persons, etc.) to submit – if they have any – information about the current existence, in any of these localities, of fixed access networks (local loop) capable of ensuring electronic communications services with "best effort" download speeds of at least 30 Mbps or electronic communications services with "best effort" download speeds of at least 2 Mbps, and maximum 30 Mbps. Further information requested regard the existence of 4G (LTE) mobile access networks (local loop) and the intentions to invest,from exclusively private funds, in network development, in the next 3 years (until 1 December 2020).

It is noteworthy that MCSI intends to consider the date of 1 December 2017 as a reference in relation to any aspects regarding the list of "white areas". Under these conditions, electronic communications operators should keep in mind that in case of installing electronic communications networks after 1 December 2017, without having communicated them as investment intentions, in the localities resulting - after this public consultation - as being not covered by high-speed electronic communications networks, they could face the competition of electronic communications operators that receive public funding to achieve the coverage objectives.

 

The list of localities is available, in Romanian, here. The interested parties are invited to send information by 01.12.2017, to the ANCOM headquarters (2 Delea Noua Street, Bucharest 3, 030925 Bucharest), directly to the ANCOM Registry Office or by e-mail to consultare@ancom.org.ro.

Electronic communications operators will send the data they hold by filling in the ”Questionnaire on broadband white areas as of 01 November 2017 (nationwide)", available – in Romanian – here: https://www.ancom.ro/chestionare_1125. This reporting obligation will be deemed achieved when the enquiry is signed electronically using the same signature whose digital certificate has been in the Authority’s reporting application, available here: https://statistica.ancom.org.ro:8000/sscpds/index.faces.