Swedish incumbent TeliaSonera and network infrastructure JV Net4Mobility have emerged as the winners of the first stage of the Swedish auction for spectrum in the 1,800MHz band.
Seven blocks of 2x5MHz spectrum were available.
In a statement, Sweden’s…
Swedish incumbent TeliaSonera and network infrastructure JV Net4Mobility have emerged as the winners of the first stage of the Swedish auction for spectrum in the 1,800MHz band.
Seven blocks of 2x5MHz spectrum were available.
In a statement, Sweden’s Post and Telecoms Agency (PTS) said that TeliaSonera had won five of these blocks (2x25MHz spectrum), while Net4Mobility had taken two of the blocks (2x10MHz spectrum).
TeliaSonera paid just under SKr920m (US$139m) for the licence. Net4Mobility paid SKr430m (US$65m).
The spectrum licences are for a 25-year period, starting from 2013.
Net4Mobility is 50-50 infrastructure JV between Norwegian incumbent Telenor’s Swedish unit and Swedish mobile operator Tele2.
The JV provides an LTE and GSM network to its owners. Telenor and Tele2 continue providing services with separate brands to their customers.
A third bidder, Hi3G Access, also participated in the bidding process, but did not win any spectrum in this stage.
Hi3G Access provides mobile services under the 3 brand. The Hong Kong-based conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa holds a 60% stake in Hi3G Access, while the rest is held by the Swedish company Investor AB.
Net4Mobility already holds 2x25MHz in the 1800MHz band, while TeliaSonera already holds 2x10MHz. Therefore, both companies now hold a total of 2x35MHz in the band.
The first stage of the auction, which is now concluded, was aimed at allocating new spectrum between bidders.
The second stage, which starts on Monday, will decide on the placement of the bidders’ spectrum in the band.
Only Net4Mobility and TeliaSonera will participate in the second stage, as they are the winning bidders from the first stage, as well as being the only companies that already hold spectrum licences in the 1,800MHz band.
PTS said that the second stage was expected to be concluded within two working days.
TeliaSonera said in a statement that it uses the 10MHz it already holds in the 1,800MHz band for nationwide mobile services in the 2G network.
It said: “The new frequencies will provide customers with even more bandwidth for their surf needs in the 4G network at the same time that the nationwide mobile telephony network is strengthened.”
Meanwhile, the CEO of Tele2Sweden, Thomas Ekman, said: “With the frequencies in the 1800 band, we have an incredible spectrum portfolio that ensures a quality 4G network and homogeneous coverage.”
Tele2, Telenor and TeliaSonera have all already launched LTE services in Sweden through the 2.6GHz band.
In March, Hi3G, Net4Mobility and TeliaSonera won spectrum in the 800MHz spectrum auction. This spectrum could be used immediately for the provision of services. TeliaSonera has already started using the 800MHz band to provide 4G services.
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