Spectrum Lease Licences

3.6 GHz Band Spectrum Lease Licences

In support of the provision of services to end users during the Temporary Situation and in light of the implementation of COVID-19 temporary spectrum licensing frameworks in 2020 and 2021, ComReg has encouraged the MNOs to consider taking other supporting actions including the leasing of spectrum rights to other affected operators. For more information on the COVID-19 temporary spectrum licensing frameworks, please see /industry/radio-spectrum/spectrum-awards/covid-19-temporary-spectrum-management-measures/

Following consultation on several notifications received from MNOs and/or Dense Air with respect to the leasing of 3.6 GHz spectrum rights to Imagine, ComReg made Spectrum Lease Determinations on same and subsequently issued several 3.6 GHz band spectrum lease licences to Imagine in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. This enabled the lease of 3.6 GHz band spectrum rights from Eir, Dense Air, Three, and Vodafone at various locations and each for a three-month period as detailed in Table 1 below.

Dense Air Eir Three Vodafone
22 Sep 2020 – 21 Mar 2020 22 June – 21 September 2020 22 June – 21 September 2020 22 June – 21 September 2020
11 May 2021 – 10 Nov 2021 13 Oct 2020 – 12 Apr 2021 13 Oct 2020 – 12 Jan 2021 13 Oct 2020 – 12 Apr 2021
11 May 2021 – 10 Nov 202 Not extended[1] 11 May 2021 – 10 Nov 2021
16 Dec 2021 – 15 Jun 2022 16 Dec 2021 – 15 Jun 2022
25 Jul 2022 – 24 Jan 2023 25 Jul 2022 – 24 Jan 2023
10 Mar 2023 – 9 June 2023 10 Mar 2023 – 9 Sep 2023

Table 1: Time periods of Imagine’s 3.6 GHz band spectrum leases from the lessors (three MNOs and Dense Air)

[1] As noted on the 3.6 GHz Band Transition webpage of ComReg, on 11 January 2021, Imagine and Three decided not to extend their Spectrum Lease Licence agreement.

The 3.6 GHz Band Spectrum Lease Licences issued to Imagine Communications Ireland Limited to date are as follows:

Licence number  Licence Commencement Licence Expiry  Licence Commitments
SLL1001 22 June 2020 21 September 2020 SLL1001
SLL1002 22 September 2020 21 December 2020 SLL1002
SLL1003 13 October 2020 12 January 2020 SLL1003
SLL1004 22 December 2020 21 March 2021 SLL1004
SLL1005 13 January 2021 12 April 2021 SLL1005
SLL1006 11 May 2021 10 August 2021 SLL1006
SLL1007 11 August 2021 10 November 2021 SLL1007
SLL1008 16 December 2021 15 March 2022 SLL1008
SLL1009 16 March 2022 15 June 2022 SLL1009
SLL1010 25 July 2022 24 October 2022 SLL1010
SLL1012 25 October 2022 24 January 2023 SLL1012
SLL1013 10 March 2023 9 June 2023 SLL1013
SLL1015 10 June 2023 9 Sept 2023 SLL1015

Lease Licences have also been issued to to Eircom Limited which allowed it to lease 3.6 GHz Band spectrum from each of Dense Air and Vodafone at a single location known as the Black Valley in the Macgillycuddy reeks, County Kerry. The Lease License assisted Eircom Limited with the continuation of services following the expiry of its 3.6 GHz Band Transition Unprotected Licence on the 31 July 2022.

The 3.6 GHz Band Spectrum Lease Licences issued to Eircom Limited to date are as follows:

Licence number  Licence Commencement Licence Expiry  Licence Commitments
SLL1011 1 August 2022 31 January 2023 SLL1011
SLL1014 10 March 2023 9 June 2023 SLL1014