Telestyrelsen to auction 900MHz, 1800MHz spectrum next month

Denmark’s National IT and Telecom Agency (Telestyrelsen) has announced it will auction two nationwide licences for spectrum in the 900MHz and 1800MHz bands next month. Under the auction plan, one concession for 2×5MHz spectrum in the 900MHz frequency band and a further licence for 2×10MHz spectrum in the 1800MHz band will go under the hammer on 20 October and 25 October 2010, respectively. Telestyrelsen said that the spectrum can be used for the provision of 2G (GSM), 3G and Long Term Evolution (LTE, 4G) mobile services. The auctions will be held online, with minimum bid prices set at DKK8 million (USD1.38 million) for the 900MHz licence and DKK4 million for the 1800MHz permit. The country’s three mobile operators which already hold licences in these bands – incumbent telco TDC, Norway’s Telenor Denmark and Telia Denmark of Sweden – are excluded from participating in the auctions. The auctions could therefore allow Denmark’s only other licensed operator – Hi3G Access Denmark (which operates in the 2100MHz band) – to expand its frequency holdings. Companies have been given until 29 September to register to take part in the auction.