Three telecom operators Telenor, Telia and Ice have won 5G spectrum in Norway during the spectrum auction that ended today.
The total spectrum price will be NOK 735.057 million or
Nkom started auction of 5G spectrum in the 700 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands on 3 June 2019.
Norwegian Communications Authority announced that Ice, Telia and Telenor won spectrum in the auction of the 700 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands. This award is an important step towards introducing 5G in Norway.
“The 700 MHz band can be used for mobile broadband from 1 November 2019. This will be a key enabler for fast roll-out of 5G in Norway,” said Elisabeth Aarsæther, director general of Nkom.
The 700 MHz band is part of the current digital terrestrial network for television in Norway. The band is available for commercial operators from 1 November 2019. In addition, 2 x 15 MHz in the 2.1 GHz band was provided in the auction.
Winners
Ice won 2 x 10 MHz in the 700 MHz band and 2 x 15 MHz in the 2.1 GHz band. Telia and Telenor won 2 x 10 each in the 700 MHz band.
Telia has acquired the lot in the 700 MHz band with coverage obligation for certain railway sections. Telenor has acquired the lot with coverage obligation for highways. No bidder committed to cover main roads.
Ice’s total auction price is NOK 337.176 million, while Telia is to pay NOK 217.881 million and Telenor is to pay NOK 180 million. The winners are paying NOK 735.057 million in total for the resources.
Winners are allowed to postpone payment of parts of their auction price for up to two years, Nkom said. In return they are required to invest a minimum of NOK 250 million in new and improved coverage over the next two years.
The telecom regulator said the option for 5G spectrum winners to pay the auction price in installments is new and the main objective is to improve coverage in areas with poor mobile network coverage.