Three companies — Wirefree Communications, Mobisof and Digiweb — have emerged as the highest bidders in an auction for 10-year national licences for the provision of wideband digital mobile data services.
According to the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), more applications than available licences were receive and as supply exceeded demand all three licences were awarded via an auction.
The auction took the format of a single-sealed bid with preferences taken into account if a bidder had the highest bid on more than one licence. It was the first time that ComReg awarded spectrum in this manner.
For spectrum block A (covering 410-412 MHz paired with 420-422MHz — four applications were received and Wirefree Communications made the highest bid, paying €110k for the licence.
Swedish company Mobisof made the highest bid of €215,007 for the second licence covering spectrum block B (covering 412-414MHz paired with 422-424MHz). The third licence for spectrum block C (covering 872-876MHz paired with 917-921MHz) went to Digiweb after bidding €177k for the licence.
Commenting on the move towards awarding licences by auction, ComReg commissioner Mike Byrne said: “ComReg has taken this initiative as part of its ongoing commitment to develop and use the spectrum.
“This competition offers opportunities for the new licensees to provide innovative services to consumers and businesses with wideband data requirements,” Byrne said.
By John Kennedy
