Mobile operators in Belgium have bid 1.2 billion euros ($1.26 billion) for fifth-generation (5G) mobile licences, the telecoms regulator said on Tuesday.
Proceeds from the auction, which attracted bids from five operators, were 468.5 million euros higher than the minimum price, the regulator said. The regulator also clarified that these proceeds may be further increased through still-pending processes, as the broadcast bands are positioned by the companies.
The Belgian regulator cleared the five entrants to the auction in March, after the government said it would encourage a new entrant on the market to increase competition with the largest operators Proximus Orange Belgium and Telenet’s BASE.
The two new entrants in the auction, CityMesh Mobile and Network Research Belgium, both obtained licences for frequencies that can be used for 5G applications.
Related: AT&T Asks The FCC To Scrutinize 5G Spectrum Acquisition
Proximus committed to pay a total of 491 million euros for its new share of spectrum. The company announced separately that it had obtained 20% more spectrum than all participating companies, solidifying its strong position in the Belgian market. Orange, meanwhile, has said it will pay 322 million euros for the frequencies, while Telenet will invest 264.3 million euros in securing 5G broadband spectrum.
The rollout of 5G technology has been a long-awaited development for tech operators, developers and the digital economy at large, promising extremely fast connection speeds and minimal latency in digital communications that would allow for new applications and products, including the development of a true “Internet of Things”. 5G auctions are expected to pick up speed this year, with announced or planned auctions taking place in Europe, Brazil, Mexico, and elsewhere.
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
FTC to Approve Exxon’s $64 Billion Deal with Pioneer Resources, Excludes
May 1, 2024 by
CPI
UK Competition Watchdog Raises Alarm Over Nvidia’s ARM Takeover
May 1, 2024 by
CPI
Sen. Klobuchar Urges Regulators to Probe Collusion in Health Care Pricing
May 1, 2024 by
CPI
Multiple States Join Tennessee’s Antitrust Lawsuit Against NCAA Over NIL Rules
May 1, 2024 by
CPI
NY AG Joins Suit Challenging NCAA’s Restrictions on Student Athlete NIL Rights
May 1, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Economics of Criminal Antitrust
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Navigating Economic Expert Work in Criminal Antitrust Litigation
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
The Increased Importance of Economics in Cartel Cases
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
A Law and Economics Analysis of the Antitrust Treatment of Physician Collective Price Agreements
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Information Exchange In Criminal Antitrust Cases: How Economic Testimony Can Tip The Scales
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI