Spectrum Newsletter – January 2022

This edition of the Spectrum Newsletter for up to the end of November 2021 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.

• Norway. The auction of spectrum in the 2.6GHz and 3.6GHz bands in Norway in September 2021 generated NOK3.89 billion (USD440 million). The auction started on Monday 27 September 2021 and consisted of three rounds.

• Pakistan. The first ever cellular spectrum auction for next-generation mobile services (NGMS) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB) was successfully concluded in September 2021.

• USA. The ‘clock’ phase of Auction 110 (to assign spectrum in the 3.45–3.55GHz band) was concluded on 16 November 2021. Bidders won 4041 of the 4060 available generic blocks. An assignment phase will follow in which successful applicants will bid for specific frequencies.

• Hong Kong. The spectrum auction in Hong Kong concluded in October 2021. Licences for spectrum in the 600MHz, 700MHz, 850MHz, 2.5–2.6GHz and 4.9GHz bands were awarded to Hutchinson Telephone Company, SmarTone Mobile Communications, Hong Kong Telecommunications (HKT) and China Mobile Hong Kong. The auction raised HK1.8765 billion (USD0.25 billion) in total. There were 32 rounds of bidding over 3 days, and 255MHz of spectrum in 19 frequency blocks was auctioned off.

• Portugal. The 5G auction in Portugal was completed in October 2021 after 1727 rounds of bidding. The principal bidding phase started on 14 January 2021 and lasted for 200 days. The regulator, Anacom, increased the minimum bidding increment for each spectrum lot to 5% on 27 September 2021 in order to accelerate the process. The auction raised EUR566.8 million (USD687.3 million) and licences in the 700MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, 2.1GHz, 2.6GHz and 3.6GHz spectrum bands were awarded to the three established operators (Vodafone, NOS, MEO (operating as Altice outside of Portugal)) as well as newcomers NOWO and Dixarobil.

• Brazil. The Brazilian government auctioned off spectrum in the 700MHz, 2.3GH, 3.5GHz and 26GHz bands in November 2021 and raised a total of BRL47.2 billion (USD8.5 billion). The three largest operators (Claro Brazil, Telefónica Brazil (Vivo) and TIM Brazil) accounted for most of this spending. Sercomtel, Brisanet, Consorcio 5G Sul, Cloud2u, Algar Telecom, Neko and Fly Link won regional/limited licences. The regulator is considering holding another auction for unsold spectrum, primarily in the 26GHz band.