5G frequencies to be auctioned after initial tie

摘要

Competitions for 5G spectrum in the 700MHz, AWS and 3.5GHz bands in Chile will proceed to a series of independent auctions, sector watchdog the Department of Telecommunications (Subsecretaria de Telecomunicaciones, Subtel) has confirmed, after the initial technical offers submitted by the interested parties were tied. Spectrum in the 26GHz band, however, will be awarded to all three of the companies that submitted offers - Claro, Entel and WOM - without auction, as there is sufficient available bandwidth to fulfil the requests. Regarding the other three bands, WOM and would-be newcomer Borealnet will go head-to-head for the available 700MHz band frequencies, whilst the two will also face competition from Claro for the AWS airwaves. Finally, the 3.5GHz range will be contested by WOM, Claro, Movistar, Entel and Borealnet. Subtel notes that the auctions will take place in ascending order based on the amount of spectrum available, starting with the 700MHz frequencies - for which there is a single 2×10MHz block-on 8 February, followed by the AWS band (2×15MHz) on 11 February and the 3.5GHz frequencies (150MHz) on 16 February.