For those who think spectrum is a headache unique to Bangladesh, here’s relief from Greece:
The auction has been discussed and planned for more than a year and predates the country’s financial crisis, said the official, a senior administrator at the Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission, the regulator holding the auction. He did not want to be identified, citing his agency’s policy. The auction’s goal, the official said, was to level the playing field in Greece among the three operators going forward as they introduce faster third- and fourth-generation mobile services.
Vodafone and Wind already hold licenses for 900-megahertz spectrum, and Cosmote uses the 1.8-gigahertz band. The higher frequency, however, requires Cosmote to operate three times as many cellphone base stations in the country to provide the same coverage its rivals can.
Under the government’s plan, Vodafone and Wind, whose licenses for 900-megahertz spectrum expire next year, would have to give up some of that prime spectrum to Cosmote so that the three operators would have roughly equal amounts as they face the future.
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