5G regulation and law in Hungary

5G services are available from Magyar Telekom, One (as of 1 January 2025 Vodafone operates under the brand name One in Hungary) and Yettel (former Telenor) in most parts of Budapest and the surrounding areas, in the regions of eastern Hungary, near Lake Balaton and in other major cities such as Győr, Debrecen, Szombathely and Kecskemét.

The companies provide continuously updated 5G coverage maps:

• Magyar Telekom 5G coverage map;
• One 5G coverage map;
• Yettel 5G coverage map.

According to the National Digitalisation Strategy 2022-2030, the peak download speed of 5G networks exceeded 652 Mbps in March 2022, ranking Hungary 14th in the world.

National 5G coverage was around 18% at the end of 2021, and the government aims to increase this to 67% by 2025. Hungary hopes to be the first EU Member State to deploy an ultra-high bandwidth - gigabit-capable - data transmission network that meets the VHCN criteria published by BEREC and supports the distribution of 5G networks.

According to Hungary's Competitiveness Strategy 2024-2030 document, the development goals include achieving 76% 5G coverage by 2025, covering all county-level cities and major transportation routes.

As for the deployment of standalone (SA) 5G networks, neither of the MNOs made public which of their networks shown as 5G on their coverage map are SA networks. However, Magyar Telekom used two colours to differentiate between the coverage, with the 3.6 GHz band providing high outdoor capacity and gigabit download speeds, and the 2100 and 700 MHz bands extending 5G coverage with 4G-equivalent speeds. The only public announcement in this regard is from Yettel back in November 2023, when it announced that it had become the first in Hungary to make SA 5G available to some subscribers, without providing more specifics.

Frequencies are currently only available to those already providing mobile communications services, but not directly to other industries or industrial companies. The National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH) noted that it may soon be necessary to update this legal framework, which could enable companies in sectors such as transport, education/research (universities) and health to apply to establish their own private networks. The NMHH also noted that secondary trading of 5G spectrum is allowed.

In a 5G auction held on 26 March 2020, Magyar Telekom, One and Yettel won 15-year licences for spectrum in the 700 MHz, 2100 MHz and 3600 MHz bands.

No bids were submitted for the 2600 MHz band.

The winners acquired 15-year usage rights in three frequency bands for a total of HUF 128.49bn (EUR 361m).

The NMHH set out English-language criteria in the tender documentation on its website.

The 15-year licensing period may be extended once for five years with unchanged conditions, without any additional fee. There is no limitation on the resale or lease of the licensed spectrum.

The NMHH set the starting price (unit price) for lots in the individual frequency bands as follows. The spectrum was eventually awarded to the highest bidder.

NMHH’s current spectrum strategy covers the 2021–2025 period. The NMHH declared during an online expert advisory workshop in September 2020 that 5G must be available on railways, public roads, in settlements, at tourist sites and to sectors including healthcare, industrial parks and higher education – by 2025. The strategy is available in Hungarian only on the NMHH website:

NMHH 2021 – 2025 spectrum strategy

On 28 January 2021, the NMHH held a tender for the licences in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency bands. Magyar Telekom, Yettel and One  participated in the auction, bidding a combined HUF 150.2bn (EUR 425m - USD 440.4m). The rights will be valid for fifteen years, until 9 April 2037. The 15-year licensing period may be extended once for an additional five years.

As the 2600 MHz frequency band is one of the 5G pioneer bands and is currently not yet in use for 5G, the NMHH stated that it aims to free the band up for 5G in the future.

The spectrum usage rules are technology neutral, according to the NMHH. The same applies for electronic communications regulation.

Vodafone Hungary provided 40 MHz of frequency in the 3500 MHz band to Budapest University of Technology and Economics. The spectrum is suitable for operating an experimental indoor 5G network across the university campus, as well as for creating an open innovation environment and a 5G Laboratory.

Yettel announced in November 2022 that it is also building a 5G network for Óbuda University. In connection with this, Yettel further announced in November 2023 that it has made SA 5G technology available on the network provided to the university as part of the collaboration.

The licence conditions are also conducive to network sharing models, as they do not impose any resale or lease moratorium on the spectrum.

Due to the technology-neutral approach, there are no specific rules for 5G; instead, the general rules outlined in the Hungarian Electronic Communications Act and NMHH Decree No. 7/2013. (IX. 19.) regarding the secondary trading of radio frequencies apply.

There are no special rules on access to 5G networks.

The licence conditions are conducive to network sharing models, as the conditions do not impose any resale or lease moratorium on the spectrum.

In November 2019, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced Huawei's involvement in Hungary's 5G roll-out. Following the US, UK, and EU classification of Huawei as a high-risk vendor, Vodafone decided to replace Huawei's equipment within five years. Despite US pressure, Hungary declined to join the 5G Clean Network Program. In October 2020, Huawei announced an R&D centre in Budapest, and in October 2021, Hungary signed a long-term cooperation agreement with Huawei to support digital education and innovation in higher education.

In 2023 May Szijjártó stated in connection with an agreement on a scholarship programme with Huawei that the company is helping to develop the 5G network nationwide. In October, Minister of Economic Development Márton Nagy signed a number of agreements between Hungary and China, including enhanced cooperation in 5G and 6G.

In January 2023, the DESIRE6G project, funded by the EU's Horizon Europe framework programme, was launched. The DESIRE6G project addresses the system architecture for future mobile networks (6G and beyond). From Hungary, Eötvös Loránd University is participating in this project, where the  research team’s main task  is to develop a programmable network infrastructure as the basis for the 6G network.

Read more at: DESIRE6G