The Danish Energy Agency (DEA, or Energistyrelsen) has revealed that three companies – Hi3G Denmark, TDC (YouSee) and TT-Netvaerket (jointly-owned by Telia Denmark and Telenor) – have qualified to bid in its forthcoming spectrum auction on 25 September. The regulator is planning to sell 2×30MHz in the 700MHz (703MHz-733MHz/758MHz-788MHz), 2×30MHz in the 900MHz and 2300MHz bands, with eight frequency categories on offer:
• A1, A2 and A3: 2×10MHz in the 700MHz or 2×10MHz in the 900MHz, with coverage obligations (Group 1, Group 2 or Group 3), no minimum bidding price
• B: up to six 2×5MHz FDD blocks in the 700MHz band, minimum price of DKK95 million (USD14.9 million) apiece
• C: up to six 2×5MHz FDD blocks in the 900MHz band, minimum price of DKK95 million each
• D: four 1×5MHz TDD blocks in the 700MHz band, minimum price DKK25 million
• E: 1×40MHz block in the 2300MHz band, no minimum price
• F: six 1×10MHz blocks in the 2300MHz band, minimum price DKK25 million.
The spectrum in the 700MHz band will be available for use from 4 April 2020, 900MHz (1 January 2020, to be freed after the GSM concessions of Telenor, Telia and TDC expire in December 2019) and 2300MHz (1 January 2019). Hi3G’s 2×5MHz block in the 900MHz band (valid until 31 December 2034) is to be migrated, depending on auction results, to ensure continuous spectrum. On 25 September the DEA will announce the winners of the three A blocks, while coverage requirements and the spectrum allocations will be finalised in the second stage of the sale process, scheduled to be conducted on 30 October. Any remaining spectrum is to be sold in Stage Three (9 November) and Stage Four (13 November) of the auction process, with all permits set to be issued on 29 November.