With a view to identifying the parishes as tend to lack mobile broadband coverage, for the purposes specified in paragraph 2 of article 34 of the Auction Regulation, the methodology adopted by ICP-ANACOM is characterized as entailing a lower reliance on the technical assumptions used by each of the holders of rights of use of frequencies, in that the list so obtained is unaffected by the specific aspects of each holder's network planning.
In this context, it is to be recalled that between January and March 2011, ANACOM took the initiative to consult Optimus, TMN and Vodafone in relation to the assumptions they use when planning their networks, and Inquiries were likewise made about the parishes in which they do not provide the mobile broadband service. From the responses received, it was concluded that the results are heavily dependent on the assumptions used by each operator, including differences in terms of the speed they consider as a benchmark for mobile broadband.
In light of:
a) Pursuit of the objectives of promoting the information society and reducing the extent of info-excluded areas1;
b) The technical specifications involved (e.g., the radioelectric signal variation inherent to the means of radio propagation, implying that the identification of these parishes should consider statistics/variability of the signal/coverage and there is therefore a factor of "uncertainty"/probability associated with coverage); and
c) The conclusions of the analysis of responses received from operators in 2011;
ICP-ANACOM adopted the following methodology:
1. A GIS (Geographic Information System) tool was loaded with the base stations registered in the 2100 MHz frequency band, as under present radio licensing2, relating to the networks of operators that support services using UMTS technology.
2. Based on the CAOP - Carta Administrativa Oficial de Portugal (Official Administrative Map of Portugal) of 2011, those parishes were identified whose respective council seats are not located within a distance, d, of any installed UMTS base station.
Given the specifications, from a technical point of view, of the different assumptions used by the operators, notably, inter alia, in terms of propagation models and sensitivity levels, ICP-ANACOM decided to use the "log-distance" propagation model to determine the distance d, and, given the assumptions set out in Annex 1, adopted a value of 5.2 km.
The adoption of this methodology, given the statistics/variability of the signal/coverage and in accordance with the criteria set out in paragraph 1 of article 34 of the Auction Regulation, aims to identify parishes whose council seats potentially served through the coverage of base stations located at a distance that implies provision of mobile broadband coverage at a level which is non-existent or very low, i.e., clearly insufficient to ensure adequate access by end-users to mobile broadband services.
This methodology enabled ICP-ANACOM, pursuant to and for the purposes of paragraph 2 of article 34 of the Auction Regulation, to identify a list of 480 parishes, as listed in Annex 2.
1 As assumed in the Report of the consultation on the draft regulation for the allocation of rights of use of frequencies in the 450 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2.1 GHz and 2.6 GHz bands (see page 80), available at Draft Regulation for allocation of rights of use of frequencies in the 450, 800, 900, 1800 MHz, 2.1 and 2.6 GHz bandshttps://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=342090.
2 Reference was made to the stations registered up to 21-06-2012.
