Spanish telecommunications provider Masmovil, the country’s fourth largest network operator, has finally decided not to take part in this month’s auction of 700 MHz band frequencies for 5G services, according to sources cited by Europa Press. The operator opted not to confirm its appearance at the tender within the required deadline because the authorities failed to heed to its various demands, such as reserving part of the spectrum at a reasonable price for operators without frequencies in low bands or dividing up certain blocks on a regional basis, said the report.
The government did previously agree to certain operator demands, such as reducing the total starting price for the blocks of frequencies from around EUR 1.2 billion to EUR 1 billion and extending the duration of spectrum licences from the previous limit of 20 years to 40 years. Masmovil also reportedly asked for the auction to be delayed until after it had received the green light to take over rival Euskaltel.
A total of seven blocks will be offered between 703 MHz and 788 MHz via a secure electronic auction system, with Vodafone, Movistar (Telefonica) and Orange expected to submit bids, while Masmovil will have to rely on its existing spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band, allowing it to offer 5G in areas with higher population density but not in Spain’s most rural areas.
