AgCom, Italy’s telecom regulator has approved a new rule that starts the procedures for allocating the frequencies for mobile broadband services.

The communications authority has set a revenue goal of US$3 billion for Italy’s largest frequency auction. The measure put down the guidelines for alloting frequencies in the 800, 1800, 2000 and 2600 MHz bands and to proceed to re-farming in the 1800 MHz band, presently used by GSM, to more modern broadband technologies such as LTE and WiMax.

The re-farming of the 900 MHz band has already been regulated and is currently underway. The multi-auction intends to create the conditions for entry of new competitors in the mobile market, providing, among other things, a ceiling of maximum bandwidth assigned to each candidate for a total of 25 MHz between the 800 and 900 MHz bands.