Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the State plans to auction the analog band after the State makes the digital switchover; and if he will estimate what this auction could achieve. [43757/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The management of the radio spectrum is a statutory function of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) under the Communications Regulation Act, 2002 as amended.

I am advised by ComReg that the 800MHz spectrum currently allocated for use in broadcasting analogue television signals, until 24 October 2012, is included in ComReg’s current Multi-Band Spectrum Award.

The level of spectrum fees that will be generated by the Multi-Band Spectrum Award process will be determined by the eventual level of demand expressed in the auction.

I would, however, draw attention to section 2.2.5 of the ComReg’s Information Memorandum (Document 12/52) which provides, amongst other things, for the following reserve prices for spectrum lots being made available in the auction:

€10.81 million for each lot in the 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands across both “time slices” (noting that 13 such lots are being made available); and

€5.4 million for each lot in the 1800 MHz band across both time slices (noting that 15 such lots are being made available).