PTA extends the deadline for the 2.6GHz consultation

Iceland’s telecoms watchdog, the Post and Telecom Administration (PTA), has extended to 14 November 2013 the deadline for interested parties to submit comments and reviews regarding the prospective allocation of spectrum resources in the 2500MHz-2690MHz frequency band. As previously reported by TeleGeography’s CommsUpdate, the PTA opened a public consultation on the topic in October 2013; the 23 channels in the 2.6GHz band, each with a bandwidth of 8MHz, are currently utilised for Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (MMDS). The regulator pointed out that Vodafone Iceland, which is licensed to operate in the 2508MHz-2564MHz, 2572MHz-2644MHz and 2652MHz-2668MHz frequency bands until 27 June 2014, had requested an extension of its concession until 2020; the company had previously indicated that part of the 2.6GHz frequency band could be utilised for Next Generation Access (NGA) services, including 4G mobile services. The published consultation document also outlined the historical use of the frequency band and the European Union (EU) legislation on the topic.