Sweden’s Pst Raised $323.7 Billion In Its Latest Spectrum Auction

Sweden’s Post and Telecom Agency (PTS) has announced that it raised $323.7m through its latest spectrum auction. Following five days and 31 rounds of online bidding, TeliaSonera, HI3G Access, and Net4Mobility (a joint venture between Tele2 and Telenor) all secured licenses in the 800MHz “digital dividend” band.

Bidders were allowed to apply for up to two licenses of 2x5Mhz each. Under the terms of the auction, a coverage requirement was imposed on one of the licenses to “help achieve the government’s broadband strategy.” Net4Mobility purchased this license, which was issued on condition that at least 75 percent of homes and businesses identified by the PTS be covered “no later than December 2013,” with full coverage expected by the following year.

Licenses were awarded on a technology-and-service-neutral basis and successful bidders must also undertake to address any interference issues that arise with Swedish terrestrial television services.

The 800MHz spectrum is part of Sweden’s “digital dividend” – spectrum that was freed up following the migration to digital TV. As a condition of receiving spectrum, all prospective licensees are required to co-operate to overcome any interference issues with terrestrial television. Sweden was one of the first countries in the world to get a commercial LTE service, when national carrier TeliaSonera launched in Oslo and Stockholm a year ago. Since then TeliaSonera has premiered LTE services in Finland and Denmark. The carrier’s operations in Lithuania, Latvia, Uzbekistan and Estonia have all launched 4G trials.

The seventh annual LTE World Summit takes place in Amsterdam on 17th – 18th May.

www.lteconference.com<http://www.lteconference.com/>