Greece announces results of 800 MHz, 2,600 MHz auction

Greek regulator EETT has announced the results of its multiple round auction of spectrum in the 800 MHz and 2,600 MHz bands for mobile services. Following the two rounds of the auction, the three mobile operators Cosmote, Vodafone and Wind each acquired one block of 2 x 50 MHz in the 800MHz band. The price of each lot is EUR 51.5 million for Cosmote, EUR 51.601 million for Vodafone and EUR 51.513 million for Wind. Cosmote and Wind both won four blocks of 2x5 Mhz in the 2600MHz frequency band. Both operators paid EUR 4.703 million per each block. Also, Vodafone won four blocks of 2x5 Mhz in the 2600MHz frequency band, priced at EUR 4.7 million each, and two unpaired blocks of 10MHz in the 2600MHz frequency band priced at EUR 1.3 million each.

The licences have a term of 15 years, effective from 28 February 2015. Wind confirmed that the licences will support its existing 4G roll-out and provide the necessary bandwidth to meet the traffic and network capacity demand of a growing market. Vodafone Greece said it will use the acquired spectrum, along with the spectrum it holds in the 1800 MHz band, to expand its geographical 4G coverage as well as further enhance its indoor 4G signal quality. With the new investment, Cosmote aims to further enhance the speed and coverage of its extensive 4G network, both in urban and rural areas.

The auction is part of Greece’s EUR 22 billion privatisation plan agreed with its international lenders, the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, under a EUR 240 billion bailout.