BIPT said Citymesh Mobile, Network Research Belgium, Orange Belgium, Proximus and Telenet Group have bought spectrum worth 1.2 billion euros ($1.26 billion) during the spectrum auction.
The main phase of the auction of the new 5G spectrum (700 MHz, 3600 MHz) and the existing 2G and 3G radio spectrum (900MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100MHz), which started on 1 June 2022, ended with proceeds of 1,202,192,400 euro.
The proceeds of 1.2 billion euro turned out to exceed the entry price set before the start of the auction by 468.5 million euro as a result of the higher bids during the simultaneous multiple-round ascending auction.
This will be followed by the 1400 MHz band auction.
Proximus has secured spectrum in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz band, as well as in the newly auctioned 700 MHz and 3600 MHz bands, essential for 5G deployment. These spectrum licenses represent a total investment of EUR 491 million for a period of 20 years (18 years for the 3600 MHz band).
Proximus obtained 20 percent more spectrum than all participating companies and secured a strong position in all bands.
“The spectrum in the 700 and 3600 MHz band will finally make it possible to bring the benefits of 5G to the entire Belgian population,” Guillaume Boutin, CEO of Proximus Group, said in a news statement.
Telenet Group has obtained frequencies in the 700 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, and 3500 MHz bands for €264.3 million. Telenet will use this spectrum to ensure continuity of service for its existing networks, and to expand its 5G network. Telenet started commercial rollout in December 2021 for the Telenet brand and in April 2022 for the BASE brand and for Telenet Business.
The spectrum obtained in the 700, 900 and 3500 MHz frequency bands will enable Telenet to expand its 5G network.
John Porter, CEO of Telenet, said: “We have been able to acquire as much as 200 MHz of spectrum for a very competitive price.”
Citymesh Mobile and Network Research are new telecom operators in Belgium.
