Main points
- Between July 2017 and September 2017, RTR launched a public consultation on 5G spectrum auctions.
- 4-3.8 GHz SCA (Simple Clock Auction) took place in March 2019.
- 700 MHz/1500 MHz/2100 MHz, expected in August 2020
- 5G Strategy for Austria, April
- All MNOs started 5G
- T-Mobile Austria 5G launch in March 2019
RTR consulted three times on 5G spectrum between July 2017 and February 2018, finally opting for a SCA on 3.4-3.6 GHz bands scheduled in February 2019. On May 28th, 2018, TKK decided on the revision of the Position Paper on Infrastructure Sharing in Mobile Networks.
The Austrian Government set up a steering group for 5G in February 2017. The “5G strategy for Austria” document was approved in April 2018.
The document defines three phases:
- Pre-commercial 5G tests are expected to be held during the first phase by mid-2018
- By year-end 2020, nationwide availability of 100 Mbps connections should be almost This creates the basis for a nationwide expansion of 5G. At the same time, the market launch of 5G in all provincial capitals should take place.
- In Phase 3, 5G should be accessible across the main traffic roads by year-end 2023, followed by nationwide coverage two years
It lists 24 actions in terms of spectrum, funding, research…, translating into ten concrete measures for 5G applications.
On Dec 20, 2018, the consultation on the product and auction design for the award 700/1500/2100 MHz started. The tender is expected in autumn 2019 and the auction in Q1 2020.
In June 2019, RTR issued a consultation on potential assignments of the 2.3 GHz and 26 GHz bands. The 2.3 GHz band was mentioned in the 2016 Spectrum Release Plan whereas the 26 GHz was not.
In August 2019, the Austrian Government announced the new national broadband strategy ‘Breitbandstrategie 2030’. The strategy aims to provide nationwide access to gigabit-capable broadband services by the end of 2030.
The goals are:
- Nationwide access to 100 Mbps speeds by end 2020
- Launch 5G in all federal state capitals by end 2020
- Becoming a ‘5G pilot country’ by early 2021
- 5G coverage along all main traffic routes by end-2023
- Nationwide coverage of 5G by the end of
In September 2019, the RTR chief said 700/1500 (eight blocks of 10 MHz) /2100 MHz (12 blocks of 2×5 MHz) frequencies to be auctioned in March 2020 will be granted under coverage conditions. A public consultation on conditions and targets was open till October 21, 2019. The government aims for main traffic routes to have 5G services available by the end of 2023, and to have “virtually nationwide” 5G coverage by the end of 2025. 700 MHz licences will include coverage of 900 underserved communities with speeds of 30 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload, 90% of federal and state roads – to enjoy at least 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload. In December 2019, the RTR published terms and conditions for the 2nd 5G spectrum auction scheduled for April 2020: it decided to lower the minimum bid by 55 million EUR to 239.3 million EUR, it also increased the duration of the licences from 20 to around 25 years. The auction was postponed due to Covid-19 in the second half of August 2020 instead of April 2020.
In April 2020, the draft regulation on security measures for 5G networks was debated. The draft ordinance proposed in Austria establishes (a) a common set of rules applicable to all telecommunications networks; and (b) particular obligations for operators to protect the security of 5G networks (for networks with more than 100,000 users). The rules established for operators include:
- the obligation to notify a security incident that has a significant impact on the security of the communications network;
- the obligation to design and implement a security policy that ensures an adequate level of security in relation to existing risks;
- a set of obligations for 5G network operators with more than 100,000 users, such as:
- to regularly submit an audit report;
- to submit a declaration of conformity attesting to the observance of international standards such as 3GPP, expressly mentioned in the annex of this order;
- to ensure the operation of the network operations center and the security operations center in the European Union;
- to effectively monitor all critical components and sensitive parts of 5G networks through the network operations center and the security operations center;
- to prevent unauthorized change of networks or components;
- to ensure the physical protection of the critical and sensitive components of 5G networks;
- restrict access to competent and qualified personnel, previously subject to security checks;
- use of appropriate tools to ensure software integrity when operating software updates;
- to establish a strategy to ensure the provision of infrastructure by several providers, including by taking into account technical constraints and interoperability requirements in different parts of other 5G
In May 2020, Vienna announced it plans to increase 5G coverage by subsidizing new sites deployment locally between July 2020 and June 2022. The city expects to spend 20 MEUR.