In Belgium, the 24.5-26.5 GHz band is used intensively for radio links, the regulator said

The Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications (BIPT) launched a public consultation aimed at gauging the level of interest in the 26 GHz band.

The regulator noted that in an initial market survey in April 2019 on the possible use of the 26 GHz radio frequency band in Belgium for future 5G applications, market players had showed no interest.

Now, potentially interested parties will have time until October 3 to submit their comments on the process.

“In Belgium, the 24.5-26.5 GHz band is used intensively for radio links. Moreover, BIPT has allocated exclusive blocks for the microwave links of [local operators] Telenet Group and Orange Belgium, in the 26 GHz band. The rest of the 26 GHz band is available,” the regulator said.

The regulator said that this consultation “should bring more clarity on the intentions of certain players in the market regarding the use of this band.”

The regulator also noted that eleven countries in the Europeanhad already assigned the 26 GHz band for 5G services.

Last year, Belgium’s 5G spectrum auction raised a total of 1.2 billion euros ($1.29 billion) from five bidders.

BIPT stated that local operators Citymesh Mobile, Network Research Belgium, Orange Belgium, Proximus and Telenet Group secured frequencies for a period of 20 years.

The regulator auctioned frequencies for 5G services in the 700 MHz and 3.6 GHz bands, and 2G and 3G spectrum in 900 MHz, 1.8 GHz and 2.1 GHz bands.

Proximus committed to pay a total of 491 million euros for the new spectrum. In a separate statement, the telco said it had obtained 20% more spectrum than all participating companies.

Orange committed to pay 322 million euros for the frequencies and claimed it had secured the maximum amount of the available 5G spectrum frequencies, while Telenet committed to pay a total of 264.3 million euros.

New entrants Citymesh Mobile and Network Research Belgium also secured 5G frequencies in the process.