According to the European Union Radio Spectrum Policy Programme Decision (RSPP), all European Union Member States should have authorised the use of the 800 MHz band for wireless broadband communications by 1 January 2013, unless an individual exemption had been obtained before that date based on exceptional national or local circumstances or cross-border frequency coordination problems that would prevent the availability of the band.
The date applies to both obligations, i.e. to carry out the authorisation process and to allow the use of the 800 MHz band. The deadline for informing the European Commission on any derogation was 30 December 2012.
So far nine countries have confirmed they will meet the 800 MHz deadline, while fourteen have requested derogation and two have yet to confirm their likely request.
| Implementation in line with RSPP | DK, DE, IE, FR, IT, LU, NL, PT, SE |
| Planned for mid 2013 | CZ, LT (+ BE & UK without derogation) |
| Planned for end of 2013 | ES, AT, SK, FI ( Finland yet to request) |
| Planned for mid 2014 | RO, SI; EL* in PL (*additional delay expected) |
| Planned for end of 2014 | HU |
| Planned for end of 2015 | CY, LV, MT |
| TBD (derogation: Article 6.4) | EE (yet to request) |
| TBD (notification: Article 1.3) | BG |
Chart: implementation of RSPP and individual exceptions
Several justifications are being invoked by applicants, including coordination problems at EU and non -EU borders, continuation of analogue or digital TV, continuation of military use, lack of demand and investment possibilities by operators, internal organisational problems and competition issues.
Comments from EU Member States will be taken into account when the European Commission assess the requests for derogations and may justify the imposition of specific conditions or restrictions to the possible derogations; they may also offer the opportunity to solve bilateral problems on time to avoid undue delay in the use of the 800 MHz band.
In addition, a request for the use of good offices of the Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG) for the interference from Italy to Malta in the UHF broadcasting band was also received.
