By Vaughan O’Grady
Only days after Movistar’s request to suspend the process was turned down by the Court for the Defence of Free Competition (TDLC), Chilean telecommunications services regulator Subtel has again adjusted the calendar for the next 5G spectrum auction, which will award frequencies in the 3.5GHz band.
It was revealed a few days ago that the start of applications had been moved from 12 February to 26 February. The process will end on 4 March. Subtel will announce the winners of the spectrum on 5 March.
The original terms remain unchanged. Subtel has said that one to five concessions of no less than 10 megahertz each will be granted for the installation and operation of high-speed mobile networks. The licenses will have a duration of 30 years.
Entel, Telefónica del Sur, Claro, VTR, WOM and Telefónica (as Movistar) are authorised to participate in the process. Claro participates as ClaroVTR, something that upset Movistar, which had been suggesting that there were anti-competitive elements to this 5G spectrum auction that would favour ClaroVTR.
As before, this auction will not necessarily involve competitive bidding. Applicants will be evaluated and given scores. However, a tie will be resolved through a bidding mechanism.
This has happened before. In January the start of applications was moved to 12 February from 24 January. At the time Subtel moved the announcement of the winners of the spectrum to 20 February.
