Austrian regulator RTR has closed the auction for regional licences for frequencies in the 5G pioneer bands 3.4-3.8 GHz, with seven successful bidders who will pay a total of around EUR 188 million for the licences. The next step will be the auction of multi-band licences in spring 2020.
The three national MNOs - A1, T-Mobile Austria and Hutchison Drei Austria - secured rights for 100-140 MHz each in all twelve regions, which is easily sufficient for efficient provision of 5G broadband services; the EU recommends 80-100 MHz. There were another four successful bidders from the federal states.
The auction took almost three weeks to determine the market value of the frequency usage rights. The total value raised amounts to about EUR 188 million, with the bidders investing between EUR 1.8 million and EUR 64.3 million each.
The regional structure of the auction has proven a successful model, as it shall also strengthen competition, the RTR said. Mobile service provider Mass Response, which has hitherto only leased other operators' networks as a MVNO, has secured rights to use frequencies in Lower Austria and Burgenland. Three regional broadband providers received licences in Upper Austria, Salzburg and Styria.
