Hungary’s National Media & Infocommunications Authority (NMHH) has announced the award of wireless broadband spectrum in the 3400MHz-3800MHz band to Vodafone Hungary and pay-TV/broadband operator DIGI Telecommunications, which were the sole participants in the auction process. According to the regulator, UK-owned mobile operator Vodafone paid a total of HUF648.6 million (USD2.4 million) for 60MHz of spectrum in the 3400MHz-3600MHz range, while DIGI, which is owned by Romanian cable group RCS&RDS, bid HUF248.0 million for a 20MHz block in the 3600MHz-3800MHz frequency band. The NMHH points out that, in addition to mobile broadband access services, the 3400MHz-3800MHz spectrum also supports wireless backhaul and high speed fixed-wireless access (FWA). It added that the auction was aimed at meeting broadband demand in underserved areas and boosting the available capacity in urban areas which experience intensive usage.
In related news, last month, the Budapest Business Journal cited the NMHH’s chief director, Janka Borcs Aranyos, as saying that the regulator is also preparing to sell off licences in a number of additional frequency bands to meet growing demand for mobile broadband and broadcasting services. Licences up for auction include spectrum allocations in the 700MHz, 1400MHz-1500MHz, 2100MHz, 2300MHz-2400MHz and 2600MHz bands.