5G regulation and law in Slovenia

Slovenian operators introduced 5G services at the end of 2020.

Overall there is a 80% population coverage with 5G.

The public auctions, based upon which the licenses were granted, aim to create effective competition. In this respect, regulator AKOS (Agencija za komunikacijska omrežja in storitve) has set spectrum caps to ensure competitive frequency access in order to prevent hoarding. Spectrum caps will also be considered when transferring or leasing usage rights.

There are mobile communications networks that operate in the licensed part of the spectrum, and their use is defined by paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 33 of the Electronic Communications Act:

• for mobile communications and for public communication services to end users (paragraph 3 of Article 33), and
• for mobile communications where the efficient use of a certain radio frequency can only be ensured through caps on the number of issued decisions on awarding radio frequencies (paragraph 2 of Article 33).

A public tender was issued where all currently available spectrum (i.e. radio frequencies

in the 700 MHz, 1500 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 3600 MHz and 26 GHz bands) were issued

After 41 rounds of bidding in the main auction, which lasted from 7 April 2021 to 14 April 2021, and six rounds of bidding in the Allocation phase of the auction, which took place on 16 April 2021, the frequencies were acquired by several operators and granted for up to 15 years.

The auction process consists of two stages: 1) an Allocation Stage and 2) an Assignment Stage. The Allocation Stage determines the number of lots awarded to each bidder in each Lot Category,

and the Base Prices that winning bidders will have to pay for these lots. The Allocation Stage consists of a Main Auction and, in cases  of any unsold lots following the conclusion of the Main Auction, potentially a Resale Auction, at AKOS’ discretion. The Assignment Stage determines the specific frequency blocks that will be assigned to bidders who were allocated frequency-generic lots, and any additional payments each bidder has to pay to receive its assignment. The Assignment Stage consists of one bidding round for each band, held in ascending frequency order.

General coverage obligations:  The applicants who acquire the frequency spectrum in any of the radio frequency bands will be required to offer commercially available wireless broadband terrestrial wireless broadband electronic communications

services in each of the acquired radio frequency bands in a way:

• to start using these frequencies and offering services to end-users on these frequencies in at least one major city within one year after an individual radio frequency band becomes available,
• within five years from availability of an individual radio frequency band to use all frequencies  in the entire acquired radio frequency band and offer services to end users on all these frequencies at least in each major city.

These time limits do not apply to frequencies in the 700 MHz, SDL, 1500 MHz SDL and 26 GHz bands, which are considered to be used and to offer services to end-users on these frequencies in at least one major city within fiveyears from availability.

The provision to offer commercially available wireless broadband

communications services means that this service is provided through base stations covering at least 75% of the population of an individual settlement in a major city, and the start of the use of radio frequencies

means that the services must be provided through at least one base station in an individual city’s  settlements.

Fulfilment of this obligation depends on the market availability of terminals and base stations. In the case that terminals and base stations for an individual radio frequency band are not available, the operator shall provide appropriate evidence. AKOS will postpone the deadline for compliance on the basis of relevant

evidence.

The procedure is realised through a bidding process.

AKOS has published the results of the public call for tenders with public auction for the assignment of radio frequencies in the 2300 MHz and 3600 MHz radio frequency bands for local use and the decision on the launch was published in November 2023.

The tenderers are able to develop local radio networks and advanced wireless services in the 2300 MHz and 3600 MHz frequency bands. This will contribute to improving the quality of mobile communications and encourage innovation in digital technologies.

Yes, there is the General Act on the radio frequency usage plan and Decree on the radio frequency band allocation plan, which regulates frequency allocations.

No 5G-specific rules have been drafted.

So far no information is available.

The Electronic Communications Act (ZEKom) governs telecommunication networks and spectrum sharing rules.

In order to ensure efficient use of radio spectrum, improve coverage and reduce environmental impact, AKOS shall promote the following sharing options:

• sharing of passive or active infrastructure or spectrum pooling,
• business arrangements on national roaming,
• joint deployment of infrastructure for the provision of networks and services based on the use of radio frequency spectrum.

Active sharing and frequency pooling is allowed within a framework that does not limit infrastructural competition. For example, sharing of active equipment and frequency pooling are permitted when passive

sharing is not sufficient, for example in challenging areas and in roll-out of small cells

Operators shall have to establish, perform, maintain and constantly improve appropriate and proportionate organizational and technical measures for managing risks to the security and safety of information systems, networks, services and information.

With the objective of managing security threats and ensuring a high level of availability, authenticity, integrity and confidentiality of the operator’s networks and services, stored, transferred or processed data or related services available over its network, a licence-holder shall have to conduct and systematically perform risk analyses with an assessment of the acceptable risk level, and appropriately document this process before implementing any security-related measures.

The Ministry of Public Administration has prepared a national risk assessment for 5G networks.

The government has signed a joint declaration with the US on 5G Clean Network Security that aims to exclude untrusted telecommunications vendors.