The Netherlands’ Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM) has published draft guidelines for sharing mobile networks.
It is seeking to clarify how mobile operators can cooperate in their network deployments.
ACM said it wants to ensure that cooperation between telecom providers supports responsible investments but does not undermine competition.
The guidance says mobile operators can collaborate “at an earlier stage” to identify new antenna locations to improve coverage and capacity of 4G and 5G mobile networks faster and efficiently, which ACM notes is becoming more difficult as more sites are needed.
In particular, the gradual phasing out of 2G/3G and regulation around frequency “rentals” offer opportunities to cooperate more. This could enable, for example, a local provider of business networks can offer alternative services.
ACM will take stakeholders’ responses into account before issuing final guidance.