A PYMNTS Company

Vodafone Wants Rule Changes Before Portugal 5G Auction

By  |  October 15, 2020

Vodafone may shun Portugal’s planned auction of 5G frequency licenses unless the regulator changes its proposed rules, which Vodafone Cluster Europe CEO labelled on Thursday, October 15, as illegal and discriminatory against established players, reported Reuters. 

The regulator ANACOM, which hopes to relaunch the auction this month after delays due to the coronavirus pandemic, has reserved a preferential spectrum in the 900 MHz and 1,800 Mhz bands for new entrants, with a 25% discount on the final auction price.

Serpil Timuray told Reuters that Vodafone, which invested €1.6 billion (US$1.9 billion) in Portugal over the last six years, would also have to reconsider plans to establish a pan-European research and development center in Portugal if the regulator followed through with the auction rules.

“We believe this proposal spectrum design is illegal on both Portuguese and EU law,” Timuray said.

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.