PTA to auction 900MHz, 2100MHz and 2600MHz spectrum in 2016

The Icelandic parliament has revoked the Act on Third Generation Mobile Telephony (No. 8/2005), with effect from 1 February 2016, though the frequencies in the 2100MHz band that have been allocated by it will remain in use until the end of the authorisation term (i.e. 30 March 2022). Telecoms regulator, the Post and Telecom Administration (PTA), disclosed that the act ‘no longer served its purpose’ as a number of conditions outlined in the legislation ‘made it difficult’ to allocate the remaining available spectrum in the band. The watchdog is now planning to launch a tender for the vacant frequencies later this year, on a technology-neutral basis. Going forward, the PTA will also auction spectrum for high speed mobile broadband services in the 900MHz (2016), 2600MHz (2016) and 700MHz (2017/18) bands.