Two 10 MHz concessions awarded to Telefónica and Orange in the auction of the 3.5 GHz band, one of the priority bands for the deployment of 5G networks

This morning, two 10 MHz concessions were awarded to each of the two operators who participated in the 20 MHz auction in the 3.5 GHz band (3,400-3,800 MHz), one of the frequency bands identified as priorities for 5G in Europe.

Telefónica and Orange have been awarded 10 MHz each for the starting price, 21 million euros.

It was the last 20 MHz available in this band. After the awarding of this tender, the 3.5 GHz band has the following concessions:

Orange 110 MHz

Telefónica 100 MHz

Vodafone 90 MHz

More Mobile 80 MHz

The next step will be to rearrange the frequencies so that all operators have contiguous blocks of frequencies and therefore make more efficient use of the radio spectrum in the deployment of 5G technology and its services.

The tender has consisted of two rounds and has been developed through a secure Electronic Auction Platform (PES), using the simultaneous upward auction mechanism of multiple rounds. All concessions will be in force until December 2038 in order to provide a stable and secure framework for operators.

The 5G Technology Impulse Strategy is a priority of the agenda España Digital 2025, presented on July 23, 2020, as well as the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan of the Spanish economy, whose general lines were presented on October 7, 2020.

The Strategy aims that in the year 2025 75% of the population will have 5G coverage through the bands that have been identified as priorities: 694-790 MHz, 3.400-3.800 MHz and 24.25-27.5 GHz. Therefore, the first axis of the Strategy is to make these bands available to operators.

The 5G Technology Boost Strategy has a public investment of 300 million in the General State Budgets for 2021 and 2 billion euros until 2025 in order to deploy these networks that will be decisive to boost digital transformation and contribute to improving connectivity in rural areas.