The Dutch auction of 2.6GHz radio frequency licences will start on 20 April, with nine bidders qualified, the government announced. The spectrum regulator Agentschap Telecom evaluated the applications from potential bidders, which were due by 8 January. A trial auction was already held in December and another will follow before the final bidding. Depending on how long the auction runs, the government expects to issue the licences in late May or early June. Available for Wimax or LTE services, the new licences are expected to open the way for at least three new service providers on the market. Of the 190 MHz made available, 135MHz will go to newcomers. The existing mobile operators KPN and T-Mobile Netherlands will be subject to a cap of 20 MHz and Vodafone Netherlands to 30 MHz. This takes account of their existing holdings in the 900, 1800 and 2100 MHz bands; Vodafone has the smallest amount of these. Licences for paired use will be offered in blocks of 2x5 MHz, while unpaired licences are offered in blocks of 5 MHz. Regardless of demand, at least 25 blocks, of which 13 for paired use and 12 for unpaired use, and 38 licences will be available.
