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 and 2021. 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.

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:

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: