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The Norwegian telecoms regulator (NTP) has finalised its auction of 2 GHz spectrum, with all nine blocks in the 1920-1980 and 2110-2170 Mhz bands sold at the minimum price of NOK5 million (US$880,000) per block. TeliaSonera and Telenor won four blocks each. Mobile Norway, a joint venture between Network Norway and Tele2, won one block. There were five registered bidders at the auction; two subsequently withdrew.

The 2 GHz auction has ended after one auction round and all nine blocks were sold at the reserve price of 5 million Norwegian kroner per block. TeliaSonera and Telenor each won four blocks and Mobile Norway won one block of spectrum. This result means that these three companies each have the same amount of spectrum in the 2 GHz band (approximately 2 x 20 MHz).

There were five registered bidders in the auction. Two of the bidders withdrew from the auction, and one of them did so only 24 minutes before the first auction round was about to start and after the auction process had started. No company could possess more than four blocks in the 2 GHz band (spectrum cap) and therefore the auction ended after one round.


Information

NPT has decided to award national spectrum licences in the 2 GHz band (1920-1980 / 2110-2170 MHz) by auction. In Norway the band is allocated for the mobile service on a primary basis and is mainly used to provide mobile broadband services (3G, HSPA, etc.). Detailed information about frequency allocations may be found on frekvens.npt.no. The auction will be carried out over the Internet.

The frequency licences will be valid for 20 years and be technology neutral.


Result

The 2 GHz auction was arranged 19 November 2012. The auction ended after one auction round and all nine blocks were sold at the reserve price of 5 million Norwegian kroner per block. TeliaSonera and Telenor each won four blocks and Mobile Norway won one block of spectrum. This result means that these three companies each have the same amount of spectrum in the 2 GHz band (approximately 2 x 20 MHz).
There were five registered bidders in the auction. Two of the bidders withdrew from the auction, and one of them did so only 24 minutes before the first auction round was about to start and after the auction process had started. No company could possess more than four blocks in the 2 GHz band (spectrum cap) and therefore the auction ended after one round.

Time schedule:

• 27 September 2012: Draft Auction rules for public consultation. Opening of period for auction registration.
• 22 October 2012: Deadline for registration and public consultation.
• 5 November 2012: Publication of final auction rules
• 13 November 2012: Test auction
• 19 November 2012: Start of auction

Frequencies to be awarded

The figure below shows the frequency blocks included in the auction.
In total there are nine blocks available in the auction, two blocks consisting of 2 x 4.8 MHz and seven blocks consisting of 2 x 5.0 MHz.

The auction rules state how the frequency blocks will be made available in the auction. Related to this is also the letter to NPT from the Ministry of Transport and Communications dated 15 May 2012. This letter can be found here (Norwegian only).


Auction rules

This section contains the auction rules which, amongst other things, give rules for registration and how the auction will be carried out.

• Auction rules

Public consultation

In the period between 27 September and 22 October 2012 NPT PT consulted on the draft auction rules. Changes made to the auction rules are described in a separate document (available in Norwegian only).


Questions

All inquiries about the announcement and the auction shall be directed to NPT via email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Questions and answers will be published here. No company name will be revealed. Questions and answers made available here is to be seen as known for the bidders.