Romanian telecom operators Vodafone, Orange, and Telekom Romania have been fined by the local telecom regulator ANCOM for failing to provide broadband mobile communications services to 90 villages in Romania.

Vodafone has received the biggest fine, of EUR 162,000 (RON 720,000), for failing to provide coverage in 72 Romanian villages which fell under its license.

The Communication Authority ANCOM has also fined Orange with EUR 27,000 (RON 120,000) for failing to provide coverage in 12 villages. Telekom Romania Mobile Communications received a sanction of EUR 13,500 (RON 60,000), as it has not fulfilled its obligation to provide coverage in six villages.

At the 2012 spectrum auction in 2012, the telecom operators who won radio frequencies suitable for broadband voice mobile communications and Internet also committed to covering 676 villages in Romania that didn’t have broadband mobile phone coverage.

Vodafone and Orange each had to cover 225 villages, Cosmote had 169, and RCS&RDS was obliged to offer mobile phone coverage for 57 villages. The deadline was April this year. RCS&RDS was the only operator that fulfilled its obligation.

Vodafone and Orange said they experienced difficulties in getting all the necessary permits to install their antennas, according to Hotnews.ro.

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editor@romania-insider.com