Polish telecoms regulator the Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) has launched public consultation regarding the sale of spectrum in the 800MHz and 2600MHz bands. UKE plans to offer up five blocks of 2×5MHz spectrum in the 800MHz band (791MHz-816MHz and 832MHz-857MHz) and seven blocks of 2×10MHz in the 2600MHz range (2500MHz-2570MHz and 2620MHz-2690MHz). The licences will be valid for 15 years and cover the entire territory of Poland. Draft documentation for the auction currently limits bidders to a maximum of two blocks of 800MHz frequencies and three of 2600MHz. However, successful bidders that already use frequencies in the 800MHz or 900MHz ranges will be not be allowed to exceed a combined total spectrum holding of 40MHz in those bands. Bidding will be conducted as a simultaneous multiple round ascending auction, and the UKE has proposed a reserve price of PLN250 million (USD78.47 million) per block of 800MHz airwaves, and PLN50 million per 2600MHz block.
The 800MHz block on offer was reduced from 2×30MHz (791MHz-821MHz, 832MHz-862MHz) to 2×25MHz following a settlement between the Polish government and CDMA operator Sferia, which became legally binding on 5 August and under which Sferia was awarded 2×5MHz in return for withdrawing its claims against the state at the International Court of Arbitration. Sferia is not permitted to bid for further 800MHz spectrum in the upcoming auction.