Advanced Television

Portugal to free up 700 MHz band from Jan 2020

August 23, 2019

From Branislav Pekic in Rome

Portugal’s National Communications Authority (Anacom) has defined the timetable for the release of the 700 MHz band, currently used for DTT, for the implementation of 5G mobile telephony.

The change, which will have to be implemented by DTT network operator Meo (Altice Portugal), will be done over a six-month period, starting in the south of the country (Algarve).

According to Anacom, a pilot test is planned in the second half of November, while the whole process will be conducted from January until June 2020, the deadline set by the EU for the implementation of 5G.

The regulator’s draft proposal will now be subject to public consultation for 20 working days.

An official source of Altice Portugal told the Lusa news agency it will send its analysis and comments to Anacom with its main concerns. According to the company, the draft proposal “seems to be ambiguous, omissive and vague on a number of points relevant to the operationalisation of this complex process”.

Earlier this month, the president of Altice Portugal, Alexandre Fonseca, warned that Portugal is already six months behind schedule regarding the launch of 5G in the country.

Categories: 5G, Articles, Broadcast, DTT/DSO, Mobile, Standards