Austrian telecoms regulator TKK plans a combinatorial clock format for its 4G auction of spectrum in the 800MHz, 900MHz, and 1800MHz bands.
The auction, set to take place in September, comprises 28 frequency blocks of 2x5MHz each.
Two of the blocks…
Austrian telecoms regulator TKK plans a combinatorial clock format for its 4G auction of spectrum in the 800MHz, 900MHz, and 1800MHz bands.
The auction, set to take place in September, comprises 28 frequency blocks of 2x5MHz each.
Two of the blocks available in the 800MHz range will be reserved for a new entrant, which would also be entitled to acquire spectrum in the 2.6GHz band.
Austrian business paper Wirtschaftsblatt suggested that Sweden’s Tele2 might be interested in acquiring the frequencies. The Swedish player had previously considered launching an MVNO on spectrum owned by Hutchison 3G. Following its takeover of Orange Austria, Hutchison is obliged to grant MVNOs access to its network to alleviate antitrust concerns.
Established players Telekom Austria, T-Mobile, and Hutchison are also likely to participate in the auction.
The regulator expects to raise at least €526m, provided all the blocks are sold. TKK said the reserve prices would be set at the lower end of the estimated market value of the different blocks, and the new entrant will have to offer a minimum of €45.6m.
The tender submission period is set to end in June.
The most recent European combinatorial clock auction was conducted in the UK, where total proceeds came below expectations, raising £2.34bn instead of the £3.5bn expected by the country’s government. Other recent spectrum auctions on the continent beat expectations, namely in the Netherlands and in Ireland.
The Dutch auction raised €3.8bn, and Ireland netted a total €854.64m despite its economic woes.
Austria previously used a combinatorial clock format for its 2.6GHZ spectrum auction.
