Telecoms: a new battle over frequencies begins, with FWA operators particularly affected - FOCUS
Intermonte: "Eolo and Opnet are among the potential participants"
(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Whilst the public consultation at AGCOM on the frequencies due to expire in 2029 continues, another round of spectrum allocation for telecoms operators is underway. These are the lower 26 GHz frequencies, which, as stated on the website of the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy, are intended in particular for ultra-broadband wireless networks and 5G applications. FWA operators, such as Eolo or Opnet, are likely to be among those interested. “The band,” writes Giorgio Tavolini in today’s Intermonte report, “is currently used mainly for WWL/FWA services and, in some instances, by the Ministry of Defence. In terms of value, the 26 GHz frequencies have historically attracted less interest than mid-band frequencies; in the 2018 5G auction, the 1,000 MHz in the upper portion of the band generated around €164 million in revenue, a marginal share compared to the approximately €6.5 billion raised in total. We therefore believe that the current allocation may also entail relatively modest outlays, whilst providing ample capacity for FWA services and high-density 5G applications”. Furthermore, compared with the 2018 auction, “the inclusion of regional blocks could prove particularly attractive to FWA operators such as Eolo and OpNet (WindTre), whilst national mobile operators are likely to focus primarily on the national blocks”.
The publication of the notice in the Official Gazette therefore marks the start of the new tender procedure provided for by the AGCOM resolution of 7 October 2025 for the allocation of the available frequencies in the 24.25–26.5 GHz, which is one of the harmonised bands at European level for the development of next-generation mobile networks. This will enable the deployment of services with high transmission capacity and low latency, contributing to the roll-out of digital infrastructure and, in particular, Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) networks.
The frequency usage rights take effect from 1 January 2029 and are valid for 15 years, with the option to extend them for a further five years. The minimum bid for each lot ranges from approximately 124,000 for a regional lot to 25.7 million for a national lot.
On the subject of the frequency licences due to expire in 2029, Iliad spoke out again yesterday through the group’s chief executive, Thomas Reynaud, who called for a rebalancing of the renewal process. The draft under consultation at AGCOM provides for the renewal of frequencies until 2037 in return for investment commitments from operators. In the consultation documents, AGCOM suggests confirming the 2.3 band, which Iliad is already using on a temporary basis, as a permanent allocation to the company. “It is possible to envisage,” writes Agcom, “that, should the availability of the band in question be made permanent, such temporary allocations – even if extended to other areas of the country, subject to the appropriate procedure – could become permanent.”
