Spain: 5G auction in July
June 1, 2021
From David Del Valle in Madrid
Spain will finally award 5G 700 MHz-licences in July with a 15 per cent discount on the initial price (€1.17 billion) to start at €995.5 million, the lowest in Europe.
At the operators’ request, the Administration has reduced the starting price on the grounds that it will boost 5G development and investment in the country estimated at between €5 billion and €6 billion as a whole. With the discount, many doubt that the Government will manage to raise the €2.1 billion initially expected from the telcos bids, far short of the €6.5 billion plus in Italy and Germany and €2.7 billion in France.
Seven 5G licences will be awarded for 40 years. Four divided into two blocks: two 2×10 MHz and the other 2×5 Mhz on the 703-733 MHz and 758-788 Mhz bands. The others on the band 758-753 MHz in 5MHz blocks.
The successful bidders must comply with the obligation of reaching a 30 per cent coverage in Spanish municipalities by end of 2022, 70 per cent in June 2024 and 100 per cent by June 2025.