Italy raises EUR 3.9 billion in spectrum auction

Italy has raised EUR 3.9 billion in its aucton of 4G radio frequencies, more than double the reserve price of EUR 1.7 billion for 240MHz of spectrum. Vodafone Italia acquired two blocks in the 800MHz band for a total EUR 992.4 million, as well as one block in the 1800MHz band for EUR 159.1 million. It also took three lots of FDD spectrum in the 2.6GHz band for EUR 36.06 million each. Vodafone said it will use the spectrum to launch LTE services, drawing on the experience of its sister company Vodafone Germany, which launched LTE at the end of 2010. Telecom Italia acquired two 800MHz blocks for a total EUR 992.2 million and one 1800MHz lot for EUR 159.0 million, plus three lots of FDD spectrum in the 2.6GHz band for a total EUR 109.1 million. Wind took two blocks in the 800MHz band for a total EUR 977.7 million, but missed out on the third block in the 1800MHz band, which went to 3 Italia for EUR 158.9 million. 3 Italia also took the two TDD blocks in the 2.6GHz band for EUR 74.0 million and two lots of FDD spectrum in the 2.6GHz band for EUR 72.4 million, giving it a total 60 MHz or 25 percent of all spectrum allocated. The operator said it will start LTE trials in the coming months. Wind also acquired four lots of the FDD spectrum in the 2.6GHz band, for a total EUR 142.2 million. The operators will have until 4 October to bid for the remaining TDD block in the 2.0GHz band. They will gain access to the 1800MHz band by the end of this year, the 2.6GHz band by the end of 2012, and the 800MHz band at the start of 2013, after it's vacated by broadcasters. The licences for both bands run until 2029.