Italy’s Ministry of Economic Development (MISE) announced that the 11th day of bidding in the national 5G spectrum tender saw offers reach EUR 5.8 billion. The five companies vying for spectrum in the in 694-790 MHz, 26.5-27.5 GHz and 3.6-3.8 GHz bands – Telecom Italia (TIM), Wind Tre, Vodafone, Fastweb and Iliad – have so far bid more than USD 3 billion over the minimum reserve price of EUR 2.5 billion due above all to the demand for spectrum in the 3.7GHz band. The 4 blocks made available in that band have brought offers totalling EUR 3.6 billion, including around EUR 1.5 billion each from TIM and Wind Tre for the two 80MHz blocks, with the 26GHz spectrum thus far attracting bids of EUR 164 million.
The only blocks already assigned are those made available in the 700 MHz band, where new entrant Iliad acquired 3 blocks of 2x5 MHz in the opening round, for which it bid EUR 676.5 million, with TIM and Vodafone bidding similar amounts to secure 2 more blocks of 5+5 MHz each.
