Switzerland has completed its auction of GSM, UMTS and LTE frequencies, raising in total CHF 996.3 million, regulator ComCom announced. The three incumbent operators Swisscom, Sunrise and Orange Switzerland all acquired frequencies, after InPhone was not admitted to the bidding. The technology-neutral licences run until 2028 and provide for an extension of existing GSM and UMTS licences, the release of digital dividend spectrum and the launch of LTE services. Swisscom paid in total CHF 360 million and acquired 2x10MHz in the 800MHz band, 2x15MHZ in the 900MHz band, 2x30MHz in each of the 1.8 and 2.1GHz bands and 2x20 paired spectrum in the 2.6GHz band, plus an additional 45MHz TDD spectrum in the 2.6 GHz band. That's 42 percent of the spectrum on auction, effectively doubling the frequencies available to the operator. Sunrise acquired 160MHz or almost 40 percent of the frequencies available for CHF 482 million. This includes 2x10MHz in the 800MHz band, 3x10MHz in the 900MHz band, 4x10MHz in the 1800MHz band, 2x10MHz in the 2.1GHz band and 5x10MHz in the 2.6GHz band. The operator said the acquisitions will allow it expand UMTS900 services and HSPA+, as well as start its first LTE pilots in the coming months. Orange Switzerland took the smallest amount of spectrum, for a total CHF 155 million. The company acquired 2x10MHz in the 800MHz band, 10MHz in the 900MHz band, 5x10MHz in the 1800MHz band and 4x10MHz in each of the 2.1 and 2.6GHz bands.
