No network operator participates in 4G, 5G frequency auction

SGGPO 06/05/2023 18:49

Although the deadline for submitting applications to participate in the 4G and 5G spectrum auction has passed, no network operator has submitted applications and paid a deposit to register to participate in the auction.

Information from the regular press conference of the Ministry of Information and Communications on the afternoon of June 5 said that after 3 auctions, no mobile network operator participated in the auction of 4G and 5G frequencies.

Specifically, on May 15, May 25 and June 2, the Ministry of Information and Communications organized an auction of the 2300MHz band, including 3 frequency blocks A1 (2300-2330 MHz), A2 (2330-2360 MHz), A3 (2360-2390 MHz). However, by the deadline for submitting registration documents to participate in the auction for each block A1, A2, A3, no enterprises had submitted documents and paid deposits to register to participate in the auction. Therefore, the auctions of frequency usage rights for the A1, A2, A3 frequency blocks were unsuccessful.

No network operator participates in 4G, 5G frequency auction photo 1

Scene of the press conference of the Ministry of Information and Communications chaired by Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Lam

Previously, on February 24, 2023, the Ministry of Information and Communications issued and publicly announced the Plan for organizing the auction of frequency usage rights for the 2300MHz band. Four telecommunications enterprises have submitted applications, namely VNPT, Viettel, MobiFone and Vietnamobile, and have been granted certificates of eligibility to participate in the auction by the Ministry of Information and Communications. According to the provisions of Decree 88/2021/ND-CP, only enterprises certified by the Ministry of Information and Communications as eligible to participate in the auction can submit applications to participate in the auction round.

According to the announcement of the Radio Frequency Department, the starting price for the 2300-2400 MHz frequency auction for the 3 frequency bands is 17,394 billion VND. Specifically, for frequency bands A1 (2300 - 2330 Mhz), A2 (2330 - 2360 Mhz), A3 (2360 - 2390 Mhz), the starting price is 5,798 billion VND and the usage period is 15 years. With a starting price of 5,798 billion VND for each frequency band and a usage period of 15 years, each network operator will theoretically pay a frequency fee of at least 386 billion VND/year.

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