NACE 61 – Telecommunications | Public Tenders

NACE 61 Telecommunications: wired, wireless and satellite communications in public tenders. CPV codes and procurement procedures.

Definition: NACE 61 covers the operation and provision of telecommunications infrastructures and services — from wired fixed networks through mobile networks and satellite communications to other telecommunications services. For public buyers, the division is one of the highest-volume service areas.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 61 cover?

NACE 61 (Telecommunications) classifies companies that operate telecommunications networks and provide communications services — a core area of public procurement, as authorities at all levels permanently rely on voice, data and network connectivity.

Division 61 within Section J (Information and Communication) is broken down into four groups:

Group	Title	Typical services
61.1	Wired telecommunications activities	Fixed-line telephony, DSL, fibre, MPLS networks
61.2	Wireless telecommunications activities	Mobile communications (4G/5G), Wi-Fi, public hotspots
61.3	Satellite telecommunications activities	Satellite internet, emergency communications, VSAT
61.9	Other telecommunications activities	Reselling, VoIP, telecoms managed services

Public contracting authorities procure from this sector in particular broadband connections, mobile contracts, government networks as well as emergency communication systems.

Public Tenders: Sector NACE 61

Public telecommunications contracts are among the regularly recurring procurements of public bodies — from mobile framework agreements to fibre connection of government sites.

Typical types of contract

Mobile framework agreements: Authorities and public bodies conclude framework agreements for government mobile phone tariffs and data cards
Fixed-line and broadband connections: Fibre connection of government buildings, schools and cultural institutions
Government networks (MPLS/SD-WAN): Administration-wide WAN infrastructure for secure government communications
BOS digital radio: Public safety and emergency response organisations operate their own digital radio networks (TETRA)
Broadband rollout: Public funding and award of concessions for the rollout of underserved areas
Cloud connectivity: Secure connection to government clouds and data centres

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 61

The link between the NACE classification and tender search is provided by the CPV codes (Common Procurement Vocabulary), which must be stated in every contract notice on TED.

CPV Code	Title	Application
64200000	Telecommunications services	General telecoms services, framework agreements
64210000	Telephone and data transmission services	Fixed line, VoIP, data lines
64212000	Mobile telephone services	Mobile contracts, data cards, M2M
64216000	Multimedia and internet services	Broadband, internet access services
32510000	Wireless telecommunications system	Wi-Fi infrastructure, radio networks
32544000	Private telecommunications equipment	ISDN/PBX, UC systems, call-centre infrastructure

Current tenders with these CPV codes can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) as well as on national procurement platforms.

For Contracting Authorities and Bidders

Public contracting authorities

Federal ministries, regional administrations, municipalities, educational institutions as well as security authorities are the key contracting authorities for telecommunications services. In Austria, the BBG (Federal Procurement Agency) coordinates framework agreements for mobile and fixed-line services. In Germany, ITZBund bundles telecoms procurement for federal authorities. For broadband rollout in rural regions, the Federal Network Agency (DE) or RTR (AT) is responsible for funding programmes and frequency awards.

Companies and bidders

Telecommunications companies participating in public tenders must typically provide the following evidence:

Licences and regulatory approvals: Valid frequency allocations and operator authorisations from the regulator
Network coverage and SLA: Evidence of the required network coverage and availability guarantees (typically 99.5–99.9 %)
IT security: BSI baseline protection compliance or comparable security certifications for government networks
Redundancy: Evidence of failover, geo-redundant network nodes and recovery times (RTO/RPO)

Frequently Asked Questions on NACE 61 and public tenders

Do mobile contracts have to be tendered publicly?
Yes — from the applicable EU thresholds (EUR 221,000 for upper federal authorities; EUR 431,000 for other public contracting authorities), telecoms services must be tendered EU-wide on TED. Many authorities use existing framework agreements of central purchasing bodies to simplify the process.

What is the difference between NACE 61 and NACE 62?
NACE 61 covers the operation of networks and the provision of transmission services. NACE 62 classifies software development and IT consultancy. Managed telecoms services with a software component can touch both divisions — the principal service is decisive.

Are telecommunications services utility-sector services?
Telecommunications companies operating on the basis of special or exclusive rights can be subject to utility sector procurement law. However, the opening of the telecoms market has resulted in most services falling under classical public procurement law.

Navigation: NACE 61 in context

NACE J – Information and Communication: Parent section
NACE 62 – Computer programming, consultancy and related activities: IT services and software development
NACE 63 – Information service activities: Data processing and hosting
NACE 60 – Programming and broadcasting activities: Radio and television

Last updated: January 2026
All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.