Frequency usage rights for 15 years in the 800MHz and 2.6GHz band ranges were secured by the three mobile networks.
rightsto use radio frequencies for 15 years in the 800MHz spectral areas - part of which is freed up by the end of 2014 with the transition from analog to digital television - and 2.6GHz on October 13, 2014.
- COSMOTE: Two (2×5 MHz) segments in the 800 MHz band and eight (six of 2×5 MHz and two of 10 MHz) segments in the 2600 MHz band, with a total price of 134,788,000 euros.
- VODAFONE-PANAFON: Two (2×5 MHz) segments in the 800 MHz band and six (four of 2×5 MHz and two of 10 MHz) segments in the 2600 MHz band, with a total price of 124,501,000 euros.
- WIND: Two (2×5 MHz) segments in the 800 MHz band and four (2×5 MHz) segments in the 2600 MHz band, with a total price of 121,825,000 euros.
The auction in the 800 and 2600 MHz bands started on Monday, October 13, 2014, with the aim of commercial exploitation and development of innovative 4G/LTE services in mobile broadband. It covered three frequency blocks in the 800 MHz band and eighteen frequency blocks in the 2600 MHz band. The 800 MHz band is part of the “digital dividend»”, i.e., the spectrum that is being freed up with the transition from analog to digital television technology.
The competitive process was designed and implemented by the Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission (EETT), using its own means, in a manner consistent with the applicable European regulatory framework and, in particular, with the revised Framework and Licensing Directives for networks and services (2002/21/EC and 2002/20/EC respectively). With the auction, the EETT's project that started in May 2013 was completed, for the allocation of the digital dividend.
According to the Authority, "The granting of radio frequency usage rights in the 800 and 2600 MHz bands is a very decisive step for the development of new wireless technologies for fourth-generation mobile telephony networks (4G), which support innovative communication, access, content and broadband data transfer services. For the country, the development of advanced communications, both in cities and in island and rural areas, contributes to the elimination of the "digital divide" with the rest of the world. The real value of this rare national resource throughout the validity of the concession lies in the creation of new infrastructures on which services and transactions will be channeled both between businesses and consumers and between citizens and businesses with the public sector."
Boosting speeds and coverage from COSMOTE's 4G network
In detail, COSMOTE secured:
- 2 spectral bandwidth segments of 2×5 MHz in the frequency bands 791–821 MHz and 832–862 MHz, instead of a total price of 103 million euros.
- 6 spectral bandwidth segments of 2×5 MHz in the frequency bands 2500–2570 MHz and 2620–2690 MHz, instead of a total price of 28,212 million euros.
- 2 non‑contiguous spectral bandwidth segments of 10 MHz in the frequency band 2575–2615 MHz, instead of a total price of 3,576 million euros.
The above segments are allocated to COSMOTE until 28.2.2030
The cost of acquiring the spectrum is in addition to the €1.2 billion investments that the OTE Group is implementing in Greece over the 2014‑2017 four‑year period, mainly in New Generation fixed and mobile networks.
Today, COSMOTE's 4G network is available to more than 60% of the country's population, and the company's goal is to provide 70% population coverage by the end of 2014. With the new spectrum, COSMOTE states that it will further boost the speeds and coverage of its extensive 4G network, both in urban and rural areas, meeting its customers' needs for ultra-high speeds and advanced communication».
The President and CEO of OTE Group, Mr. Michalis Tsamaz, stated in this regard: “Our priority is the needs of our customers. Our new major investment, amounting to 135 million euros, in spectrum, allows us to further upgrade the services we offer them. We are strengthening our networks, offering an even higher quality experience, especially on the 4G network. We are by far the largest investor in telecommunications in Greece. We confirm this today, investing the largest amount among the companies that participated in the auction. Investing in telecommunications is an investment in the development of the economy and the country.”
Expansion of Vodafone's 4G network and better 4G signal in buildings
Vodafone invested 124,501,000 euros to secure spectrum in the same bands, 800 MHz and 2600 MHz. Specifically, Vodafone acquired new spectrum of 2×10 MHz at 800 MHz and 2×20 MHz (bonded) and 20 MHz (unbonded) at 2600 MHz. It will also use it to expand the geographical coverage of its 4G network, as well as to further improve the quality of the 4G signal indoors.
In November 2011 Vodafone renewed and expanded the mobile communications frequency spectrum within the framework of the corresponding EETT tender, securing spectrum in the 900 MHz band as well as in the 1800 MHz band, for further widening of the 2G and 3G services it provides to its subscribers, for the acquisition of which it has paid €168.5 million.
Mr. Glafkos Persianis, President and CEO of Vodafone Greece, stated in this regard: "This investment enables us to exploit new opportunities arising from the expansion of the frequency spectrum. At the same time, we actively contribute to the development of the Greek economy and demonstrate our commitment to continue providing our customers with technologically innovative services, fast and reliable communication."
Development of the 4G/LTE network by WIND
WIND Hellas paid a total of 121.825 million euros and acquired rights for two segments (2 x 10 MHz) in the 800MHz band and also for four segments (2 x 20MHz) in the 2600MHz band. The new spectrum will be utilized immediately as the company has already started to develop a new generation (4G) mobile network in the country using LTE technology.
“We will integrate the new spectrum into our network modernization and ongoing development of next-generation mobile services. By making this significant investment, we have acquired critical spectrum that will allow us to meet the growing consumer demand for mobile broadband services and provide our customers with the highest speeds in data services,” said WIND Hellas President and CEO, Nasos Zarkalis. “At the same time, we are promoting our competitiveness in the market and enhancing the value of our shareholders’ investment in the company.”
tovima.gr
Source: secnews.gr
