ComReg to launch consultation on mobile TV

Ireland’s telecoms regulator ComReg is to launch a consultation on the award of UHF spectrum in five urban areas (in the first phase) in the Republic. The watchdog’s consultation concerns the possible award of licences to offer mobile TV services in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. It is understood ComReg is looking at two possible scenarios to issue the concessions. The first idea would be to award ten-year licences, costing an initial EUR340,000 (USD527,000, but indexed to the CPI) for multi-city mobile TV services, with wholesale service obligations attached as a pre-condition, aimed at giving alternative operators access to the content on a fair, transparent and reasonable basis. The alternative plan would again focus on a ten-year licence period, an annual licence fee of EUR650,000 (again index-linked) and the provision of 8MHz of spectrum bandwidth. In both cases, successful licensees would be expected to launch within two years of their licence award. Licences would be awarded via a sealed bid auction.