Netherlands to redistribute mobile frequencies
Licences for important 4G and 5G bands expire in 2030; the government is aiming for a new allocation in 2029.
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The Netherlands intends to redistribute frequencies for mobile communications after 2030 through an auction or comparative assessment. State Secretary Willemijn Aerdts wants to reissue the existing licences in the first half of 2029.
The bands involved are 800, 900, 1800 and 2600 megahertz. These frequencies are used for mobile communications, including 2G, 4G and 5G. The current licences expire in May 2030.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy is provisionally opting for redistribution in the first half of 2029. In a letter to the Lower House (Tweede Kamer), the ministry writes that this could take place through an auction or a comparative assessment. In an auction, market players pay for frequency space; in a comparative assessment, applications are judged against conditions set in advance.
On Friday, the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) advised against postponing the auction in order to include the so-called Upper 6 GHz band. That band may potentially be used for mobile communications in the future, but its technical and European conditions have not yet been finalised.
According to the ACM, the benefits of a combined allocation therefore do not currently outweigh the uncertainty. The ministry says there is no urgent reason to extend the current licences in order to include the Upper 6 GHz band in the same round after all.
The allocation is important for KPN, Odido and VodafoneZiggo, which depend on access to radio spectrum to provide mobile networks. The auction conditions could affect market access, coverage, investment and the cost structures of telecoms companies.
The announcement concerns the allocation of frequencies for use after the current licences expire in 2030. It is not yet clear what consequences consumers will notice. Nor has it been decided what coverage and speed requirements will apply or exactly how much frequency space will become available.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The current licences for four mobile frequency bands expire in 2030.
- The ministry wants to redistribute the bands in 2029.
- The ACM does not recommend postponing a combined Upper 6 GHz auction.
Left
Arguments The government should set conditions for coverage, affordability and the public interest before scarce frequency space is allocated.
Values Digital accessibility, public oversight and fair market access.
Consequences Without firm conditions, commercial interests could outweigh connectivity in sparsely populated areas and affordable services.
Centre
Arguments A timely, predictable allocation is necessary, but the government must carefully weigh competition and technological developments.
Values Continuity, practicality and independent regulation.
Consequences Delaying the process to incorporate future technology could have benefits, but it would also increase uncertainty for providers and users.
Right
Arguments The government should allocate frequencies efficiently and give market players room to invest and compete themselves.
Values Market forces, innovation and a restrained government.
Consequences Heavy obligations or high auction prices could put investment and, ultimately, the affordability of mobile services under pressure.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The frequency bands described, the expiry date and the timetable are set out in the ministerial letter and the ACM advice. Uncertain elements, such as the precise auction format and the future use of Upper 6 GHz, are identified as such.
- confirmed The licences for 800, 900, 1800 and 2600 MHz expire in May 2030. — This is stated in the ACM advice. source
- confirmed The ministry is aiming for redistribution in the first half of 2029. — This is stated in the letter to the Lower House. source
- confirmed The future use of Upper 6 GHz has not yet been decided. — Both the ministry and the ACM describe this as an ongoing policy process. source
Editor's note
The intention to redistribute the frequencies and the ACM's advice have been confirmed. The precise auction rules, coverage requirements and future use of Upper 6 GHz have not yet been established.Sources
- Advies Upper 6 GHz en uitstel multibandveiling EZK — Autoriteit Consument & Markt
- Brief over multibandverdeling voor mobiele communicatie — Ministerie van Economische Zaken en Klimaat
- Nederland gaat 4G- en 5G-banden ook na 2030 weer via veiling uitdelen — Tweakers
More on this in Dutch media
- NOS — „frequenties telecom”
- Het Parool — „frequenties telecom”
- NRC — „frequenties telecom”