The spectrum auction for new-generation wireless broadband ended on 30 October.
The winning operators for 800 MHz spectrum were DNA, Elisa and TeliaSonera Finland. The auction will generate EUR 108.010 million in revenue to the State of Finland. The auction lasted for over nine months.
The winning bids are:
DNA Oy
Frequency pair FDD1: 16 900 000 e
Frequency pair FDD2: 16 670 000 e
Elisa Oyj
Frequency pair FDD5: 16 670 000 e
Frequency pair FDD6: 16 670 000 e
TeliaSonera Finland Oyj
Frequency pair FDD3: 22 200 000 e
Frequency pair FDD4: 18 900 000 e
Ms Pia Viitanen, Minister of Housing and Communications of Finland, considers it important that the auction has finally concluded.
"It is regrettable for all parties involved that the auction process was so lengthy. We will make use of the experience in drafting the reform of electronic communications legislation, the Code for Information Society and Communications Services, and ensure that future auctions will not get prolonged in such a way", Viitanen says.
"The most important aspect in terms of communications policy is that the 800 MHz frequency band can be taken into the use of a wireless broadband so that high-speed 4G connections will be available throughout the country", she says.
The Government is to award the winning bidders a licence for a fixed period of 20 years. The licences cover the whole of Finland excluding the Region of Åland.
Business operations within the frequency band may be launched on 1 January 2014. The licence holder must launch operations referred to in the licence within two years of the start of the licence period.
The mobile communications network must be constructed to cover 95 per cent of the population in mainland Finland within three years of the start of the licence period and 97 or 99 per cent of the population in mainland Finland within five years of the start of the licence period.
Further information
Mr Olli-Pekka Rantala, Director of Communications Market Unit, tel. +358 50 344 3400
Mr Jarno Ilme, Director, Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority, tel. +358 295 390 574
Ms Asta Sihvonen-Punkka, Director-General, Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority, +358 295 390 400
