Spectrum Newsletter – January 2023

This edition of the Spectrum Newsletter for up to the end of December 2022 highlights the spectrum auction activity in four regions worldwide:

• the Americas (Latin America (LATAM) and North America (NA))
• Asia–Pacific (emerging Asia–Pacific (EMAP) and developed Asia–Pacific (DVAP))
• Europe (Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Western Europe (WE))
• the Middle East and Africa (MEA). 

Notable events in the period include the following.

• Tanzania. Tanzania completed its multi-band spectrum auction on 11 October 2022. Eleven blocks of spectrum in the 700MHz (2×10MHz), 2300MHz (two blocks of 1×35MHz), 2600MHz (three blocks of 2×15MHz and one block of 1×20MHz) and 3500MHz (four blocks of 1×40MHz) bands were assigned. Five operators participated in the auction with just four coming away with spectrum. The winning bidders included Vodacom Tanzania, Airtel Tanzania, Millicom Tanzania (Tigo) and Viettel Tanzania (Halotel), spending a total of USD199.3 million. Some of the spectrum was bought by the bidders at around three times higher than the reserve price set by the regulator.
• Vodacom and Airtel spent the most at the auction, paying USD67 million and USD66 million, respectively. Vodacom acquired 2×10MHz of spectrum in the 700MHz band, 70MHz in the 2300MHz band and 220MHz in the 2600MHz band. Airtel acquired 80MHz of spectrum in the 3500MHz band and 2×30MHz in the 2600MHz band; Millicom purchased 40MHz in the 3500MHz band; and Viettel secured 2×15MHz of spectrum in the 2600MHz band. Under the licence terms, all operators are obliged to meet coverage and capacity requirements set by the regulator. 
• Spain. On 21 December 2022, Spain’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation completed its 5G spectrum auction in the 26GHz band. Four operators were selected to participate including Telefónica Spain (Movistar), Vodafone Spain, Orange Spain and Globe Operator Telecom (based in the Castilla y Leon region).
• Telefónica Spain acquired 1000MHz of spectrum, paying USD19.7 million. Vodafone and Orange both secured 400MHz of spectrum for USD7.9 million. Globe Operator Telecom acquired 200MHz of the total 400MHz regional spectrum available. The licences are valid for 20 years, with the potential to extend for an additional 20 years.
• Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan’s first ever 5G spectrum took place between on 22/23 December 2022, with participants bidding for a total of 200MHz of spectrum in the 3.5GHz band. A consortium of operators formed by Kcell and Mobile Telecom Service (a joint venture between Altel and Tele2) acquired all 200MHz of available spectrum paying USD338 million.
• Ireland. Ireland’s Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) announced the results of its multi-band spectrum auction which ended on 14 December 2022. The auction involved the sale of 465MHz of spectrum in the 700MHz FDD, 2100MHz FDD, 2300MHz TDD and 2600MHz TDD/FDD bands. There were four participants in the auction including Eir, Imagine, Three and Vodafone, which together paid a total of USD332.7 million for the spectrum. Vodafone Ireland and Three Ireland both acquired frequencies in the 700MHz, 2100MHz and 2600MHz bands. Eir secured frequencies in the 700MHz, 2100MHz and 2300MHz bands, and Imagine purchased spectrum in the 2300MHz and 2600MHz bands.

On 19 December 2022, ComReg announced the Provisional Assignment Plan of the Multi Band Spectrum Award Process and notified the start of the Negotiation Phase.