"We expect 5G to be on the mobile phones of Albanians in mid-2025"

2024-09-21 20:30:00, Tech CNA

"We expect 5G to be on the mobile phones of Albanians in mid-2025"

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Albanians will have 5G internet on their mobile phones in the middle of 2025. Tomi Frashëri, Chairman of the Governing Council of the Electronic and Postal Communications Authority (AKEP), says in an interview for "Monitor" that 5G will initially be active only in large urban centers and in ports, airports and in some areas of particular importance, while by 2027, more than half of the population will be covered by a 5G network.

According to him, the full coverage of the territory with the 5G network is conditional on the release and putting into use of the 700 MHz band, which is still in use by audiovisual media operators.

Mr. Frashëri emphasizes that the implementation of 5G at this moment is also important to cope with the additional traffic created by the high flow of tourists in mobile networks.

According to him, increasing data transmission capacities in hot spots such as the centers of major cities and near beaches is necessary to manage the risk of network congestion from congestion.

Mr. Frashëri, why has this exact moment been chosen by AKEP to sell some frequency blocks in the 3400-3800 MHz bands?

First of all, I would like to thank the "Monitor" magazine for the interest shown in this extremely important process for the country.

The last tender for granting use of frequencies was developed by AKEP in 2018-19, when the way was opened for the implementation of 4G technology.

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Of course, embracing the new generation of telecommunications technology presupposes a reasonable return on the investment made by entrepreneurs in the precursor technology. In this sense, a time gap of 7 years, between two investment cycles, is normal.

On the other hand, it must be said that AKEP and the interested parties were initially waiting for developments regarding the 700 MHz band. This band, currently used by audiovisual media, is defined according to international norms for the use of mobile networks. In fact, the physical features of the 700 MHz band enable optimal coverage, from a technical-financial point of view, of the territory on a large scale.

As this band continues to be used by audiovisual operators, mobile companies have shown interest in introducing 5G technology in the next pioneering band, i.e. the 3.5 GHz band, which, although it does not offer large-scale coverage, is suitable to ensure high quality of service in dense urban areas.

I would like to emphasize that the tender is developed after a public consultation, where all interested parties have had the opportunity to present their opinions, as well as after the approval of the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, which has determined the main options for the conditions and progress of the awarding process. these generations in use.

What main trends does the adoption of 5G technology bring and what are the most important benefits for different categories of subscribers?

I am starting from the second part of your question. Subscribers located in urban areas, in main tourist spots, on national roads, will enjoy a higher speed in uploading and downloading data to the network, with less waiting time when performing online actions.

Business customers, large industrial corporations, whether private or public, will be able to rely on 5G technology to develop business ideas in the framework of smart cities, in manufacturing (through the adoption of the Internet-of-things) , in transport, agriculture, health and so on.

The implementation of 5G at this moment is important for another reason. The large tourist flows in the summer months do not generate increased traffic only on the roads of Albania, but also on mobile networks.

Therefore, the increase of data transmission capacities in hot spots such as the centers of the main cities, on the beaches of Durrës, Vlora, Himara and Saranda is necessary to manage the risk of network congestion, always more important in our country.

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Finally, the new legal provision for 5G technology mandates much higher standards in terms of network security.

I would like to applaud the two mobile entrepreneurs' commitment to network integrity and cyber security to date, and I am confident that, together with the government and other stakeholders, we will live a secure electronic communications ecosystem for the benefit of the national interest and user privacy. .

On what basis are the minimum prices set in the tender for the value of the offers determined?

The minimum price for an individual authorization unit is the product of a long process of study and reflection.

It is based on, among other things, sales prices in similar countries (benchmark method), the history of sales of frequencies in other bands in our country, the evolution of the Gross Domestic Product, demographic movements, as well as conditions and the obligations to be assumed by the winning bidders.

What is the expected calendar for the implementation of 5G technology in our country?

According to forecasts, Albanian citizens will be able to see the 5G sign on their smartphones around the middle of next year. The true 5G experience will initially only be valid in large urban centers and in ports, airports and some areas of particular importance. By 2027, more than half of the population will be covered by a 5G network.

The full coverage of the territory with the 5G network, as mentioned above, is conditional on the release and use of the 700 MHz band.

In order to keep pace with the countries of the European Union and to fulfill the country's digital ambitions, it is essential that the 5G experience be a reality for the vast majority of Albanian citizens within the end of this decade.

It should not be forgotten that the implementation of this reality is also conditioned by the possession by users of end devices, i.e. smartphones, of the last generations, the equipment with which sometimes represents significant costs for the budgets of Albanian families.

Tomi Frashëri, Chairman of the Governing Council of the Electronic and Postal Communications Authority (AKEP)

What are the medium and long-term objectives of the sectoral regulator in the framework of the spectrum policy?

The spectrum policy is defined in the legal and by-laws in force. As for electronic communications, AKEP has traditionally paid attention to the coverage of the territory and the population with mobile service, as well as the avoidance of interference within the territory and in border areas.

In view of the broadband plan, AKEP aims, without question, to promote broadband services as a strategic objective of the first order.

It is important to note that, in recent years, AKEP has gained a keener awareness of the finite nature or scarcity, as it is said in economic language, of frequency bands.

Thus, two years ago, we undertook an extensive and unprecedented operation to ensure the efficient allocation and use of spectrum.

At the same time, the Competition Authority's decision of March 2022, which allowed the merger of the second and third mobile operators in the country, has prompted a deep reflection on the more active role that spectrum policy can play in order to promote competition, in line with the principles and objectives defined in the Decision of the Council of Ministers no. 636/2020.

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Do you see the potential for other entities to participate in the tender for 5G technology frequencies, in addition to the two existing mobile network operators?

It would be a nice surprise for any other entity to participate in the tender in addition to the entrepreneurs currently active in the Albanian market. Therefore, the call for bids was published not only in the local media, but also in an international press.

However, any interested operator can submit a request to AKEP at any time for the use of one or several free frequency blocks.

In this context, AKEP has followed a spectrum policy that allows, in case of interest, the entry into the market of a third mobile network operator, avoiding from the root any obstacle that could be considered a barrier in this respect.

Based on the experience of other countries, what environmental and social impact is expected to be brought by 5G technology?

By increasing the reliability and speed of data transmission, 5G technology has the potential to promote and develop remote work, online learning (e-learning), audiovisual content consumption.

In other words, for all industries and professionals engaged in these sectors, 5G will bring increased productivity and performance.

On the other hand, although 5G technology implies a denser base station deployment plan, the antennas will be smaller in size. Consequently, from an aesthetic and environmental point of view, the impact will be more limited compared to predecessor technologies.

At the same time, the reduced dimensions of the antennas mean a lower radiation power.

The Radiation Protection Commission, which is the national authority responsible for the field, guarantees that the level of radiation is below the permitted limits, in accordance with the EU standards set out in the Council Recommendation of 12 July 1999 on the limitation of exposure of the public to electromagnetic fields (0 Hz to 300 GHz).

The Commission, on the one hand, approves the compatibility of antenna projects with the rates of non-ionizing radiation dispersion, and, on the other hand, continuously supervises and inspects that the level of radiation is within the normative limits./ Monitor.al