- Progress is thus made in the implementation of the necessary networks for the development of the 5G system and will place Spain among the most advanced countries
- I know 200 MHz auctioned in the 3.6-3.8 GHz frequency band, a priority band for the development of 5G technology in Europe
- The four operators currently present in the Spanish mobile phone market have been submitted to the auction
The Ministry of Economy and Business will start next week the first auction in Spain of licenses for the use of the radio spectrum for the provision of 5G services. This is the first step for the deployment of the necessary networks for the development of the 5G system that will place Spain among the most advanced countries in the promotion of this new technology.
5G technology not only constitutes the new paradigm of mobile communications, but it will be the essential technological component in digital transformation. Its deployment will allow the development of the Internet of Things, big data, robotics or virtual reality, with a transversal effect on society and the economy over the next decade, being a catalyst for investment attraction and a lever for growth inclusive by contributing to reduce the digital divide.
Characteristics and development of the auction
In the auction, a total of 200 MHz will be tendered in the frequency band 3.6-3.8 GHz and the four main operators of the Spanish mobile phone market will participate, who have submitted a request to take part and have been admitted: Mas Movil, Movistar, Orange and Vodafone.
The 200 MHz are distributed in 40 blocks of 5 MHz each, all of them nationwide. The starting price of each block has been set at 2.5 million euros, in total 100 million euros for the 200 MHz that are tendered. The concessions will last 20 years.
The operators participating in the auction must respect the maximum frequency limit that the same operator may have in the band 3.4-3.8 GHz, set at 120MHz.
The tender will be carried out electronically, through a simultaneous up-auction mechanism of multiple rounds. Tenderers must submit their bids within the period of duration of the round. The process will end when no new bids are received in a round.
The auction will take place in rounds scheduled by the Bureau, between 10 am and 6 pm, Monday through Friday. The rounds will have a maximum duration of 30 minutes and will be scheduled at least 15 minutes before their start time.
The auction that now begins is part of the 5G National Plan 2018-2020. With the process that now begins, the radio spectrum tenders called by publication in the Official State Gazette will be completed on May 26, 2018. The operators arranged until June 29 to submit their applications.
The band 3.4-3.8 GHz (3400-3800 MHz) has been identified as the main band for the introduction of 5G-based services in Europe. Hence, the National 5G Plan contemplates the bidding of the 200 MHz of the band 3.6-3.8 GHz (3600-3800 MHz) as a priority.
