Finland has completed its auction of the 700 MHz band for 4G mobile services, awarding the spectrum to the three existing operators at the reserve price.
The Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority, Ficora offered six paired frequency blocks of 5 MHz each in the bands 703–733 and 758–788 MHz. Bidders were limited to two blocks each, and the starting price for a paired frequency block was EUR 11 million.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications said the operators Elisa, DNA and Sonera each acquired 2x5 MHz for EUR 22 million each, raising the state in total EUR 66 million. The nationwide licences are valid for 17 years and can be used starting 01 February 2017. Payment can be made in five installments over five years.
The operators are expected to use the frequencies to boost their 4G coverage and capacity. The licences carry a requirement to ensure 99 percent 4G population coverage by February 2020, up from 95 percent by the end of this year under the current licences.
Sonera said it will pay Ficora the EUR 22.4 million price for its new blocks in the 700 MHz band in five tranches over five years. It said its existing 4G coverage is 97 percent of the population, compared with the new licence requirement of 99 percent by February 2020.
Rival Elisa said its current 4G network already covers 99 percent of the country's residents. It said it had obtained all of the additional frequencies it had sought from the 700 MHz range, and will use them to improve mobile broadband coverage of sparsely populated areas in particular.
DNA said its own LTE grid already covers 99 percent of the population, primarily using the 1800 MHz and 800 MHz bands, and will also pay its fees over five years. It will use the 700 MHz airwaves to boost reception in thinly populated places, it said.
