Diverging Paths for 700 MHz PPDR Reservations: Lithuania Releases Spectrum to Market as Sweden Eyes Rakel Replacement

Lithuania and Sweden, both of which had reserved one third (2×10 MHz) of their respective 2×30 MHz 700 MHz commercial bands for public protection and disaster relief (PPDR) use, have this year taken diverging paths regarding that spectrum, with Lithuania releasing its allocation to commercial operators while Sweden moves toward activating its own reservation for a dedicated PPDR network through SWEN, the replacement network for RAKEL.

In Lithuania, the reserved 2×10 MHz was auctioned off to commercial operators this summer, with the spectrum apparently judged to be put to better use in commercial hands rather than retained for PPDR purposes.

In Sweden, the equivalent reservation followed a different trajectory. The matter resurfaced in the spring, when the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) ran a public consultation on using the 2×10 MHz allocation for PPDR to replace Rakel, Sweden's ageing TETRA-based public safety network. Unlike Lithuania, Sweden appears to have both a clear operational need for a replacement network and the funding in place to support a dedicated next-generation PPDR system.

The contrasting outcomes illustrate the differing national approaches to 700 MHz PPDR spectrum management within the region, with Lithuania prioritising commercial deployment and Sweden positioning its reserved spectrum for a future mission-critical network to succeed Rakel.