IBPT-BIPT, telecom regulator of Belgium, has cleared five mobile network operators for participating in 5G mobile license auction in June.
The 5G spectrum auction will bring a fourth mobile operator into the market.
The government previously said it would encourage a fourth entrant to increase competition with the largest operator Proximus, Orange and Telenet’s BASE.
“Five mobile operators applied for the future auction and all were declared eligible after examination,” industry regulator IBPT-BIPT said in a statement. The spectrum auction would define Belgium’s mobile landscape for the next 20 years.
Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications did not name the operators. The auction will cover the new main 5G licenses and existing 2G and 3G spectrum.
Belgium’s plans for a 5G auction were blocked for years by disagreements between federal and regional governments.
The radio frequency bands that are up for auction are in the 700 MHz, 900 MHz, 1400 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz and the 3400-3800 MHz frequency bands.
