Copying and distributing are prohibited without permission of the publisher
Four to bid in German network auction
08 March 2010
Germany’s four existing mobile licence operators — and no others — have been cleared to bid for new spectrum by regulator Matthias Kurth
Read more:
Germany
auction
spectrum
Deutsche Telekom
Vodafone
KPN
E-Plus
Telefónica
O2
The German network regulator has selected four companies that will bid in a spectrum auction starting from April 12. The four bidders are Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, KPN’s E-Plus and Telefónica O2.
All the four established mobile network providers are allowed to participate in the spectrum auction, but no newcomers will be bidding.
The regulator, Bundesnetzagentur, headed by Matthias Kurth, had received expressions of interest from two other companies. One has since withdrawn from the process, while the other did not fulfil the conditions needed to take part in the auction.
The regulator will sell several sections of spectrum in four bands not used any more by broadcasters or the military. The most significant spectrum is in the 800 megahertz band, most suitable for ensuring fourth-generation networks penetrate widely in rural areas and reach inside buildings in urban areas.
KPN’s E-Plus has set up a separate but wholly-owned entity to take part in the auction process. GTB