03 April 2019
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Austrian public enterprises join forces to accelerate 5G expansion
On 26 March 2019, the Austrian mobile operator T-Mobile commissioned the first 25 5G mobile stations in 17 selected Austrian municipalities, predominantly in rural areas. According to the Chancellor of Austria, the start of 5G marks a milestone in the country's economic competitiveness and technological progress.
However, further steps need to be taken to achieve almost nationwide availability of 5G by the end of 2023 as laid down in the Federal Government's 5G strategy paper.
Besides the upcoming procurement procedure for the 700/1500/2100-MHz-frequency-band auction in early 2020, the establishment of a 5G network is highly complex and cost-intensive. Compared to previous mobile radio standards, the nationwide availability of 5G requires a large number of antennas. Thus, apart from conventional mobile stations (such as large transmission towers), the 5G network will primarily consist of small cells, which can be attached to things like house walls, advertising pillars, public telephone systems, traffic lamps, street lamps or tram stop shelters.
It was announced last week that four Austrian public enterprises (Telekom Austria, Österreichische Bundesbahnen, ASFINAG, Bundesimmobilien GmbH) will join forces to speed up the expansion of the 5G network throughout Austria. This cooperation should not only facilitate the selection of potential objects for attaching small cells, but also the shared use of already existing transmission towers and other mobile stations.
From a legal point of view, the Austrian federal legislator has already taken measures to support the expansion of the 5G network by amending the legal framework for telecommunication lines under the Austrian Telecommunication Act (TKG):
- Broadly speaking, the provider of a public communications network has the right to attach small cells on publicly owned objects subject to certain compensation.
- Pursuant to the TKG, an agreement under civil law between the provider of a public communications network and the public owner of the specific object is preferred.
- If such an agreement cannot be reached, both the provider and the public owner are entitled to apply to the competent supervisory authority (Telecom Control Commission). The authority's decision replaces the failed agreement.
Schoenherr recently advised an Austrian public enterprise on various questions with regard to these legislative amendments.
The next months will show whether the cooperation between the above-mentioned public enterprises will in fact facilitate the establishment of the 5G network and to what extent the outlined legislative measures will contribute to it.
Author: Christian Holzer
Useful Links:
https://derstandard.at/2000100224690/T-Mobile-startet-das-erste-5G-Netz-Oesterreichs
https://orf.at//stories/3115953/
https://diepresse.com/home/wirtschaft/economist/5598475/5G_Telekom-schmiedet-Allianz-mit-Staatsbetrieben
Christian
Holzer
Counsel
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