The government of Spain said that national 5G concessions will have a starting price of 7.5 million euros each
The Spanish government has kicked off the process to auction more spectrum for 5G mobile services in the country.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation launched a public consultation for the provision of additional 5G spectrum in the 26 GHz band.
The government said it aims to award 12 state concessions for a total of 2,400 megahertz and 38 regional concessions for a total of 400 megahertz in blocks of 200 megahertz. These concessions will be valid for a period of 20 years, extendable for another 20.
The national concessions will have a starting price of 7.5 million euros ($7.23 million) each, while in the case of regional concessions, the price will range from 1.2 million euros for each of the concessions in Catalonia to the slightly more than 13,000 euros for concessions in Ceuta and Melilla.
The consultation will remain open until October 27, 2022.
In July 2021, the Spanish government raised a total of 1.1 billion euros in the 700 MHz spectrum auction, with local operators Telefónica, Vodafone and Orange securing these key frequencies to expand 5G services.
The Spanish Ministry of Economic Affairs had said that each 700 MHz license will have a duration of 20 years, rising to a maximum of 40 years.
Spanish operators have already launched 5G services through spectrum in the 3.5 GHz, which was awarded in 2018.
In February 2021, the Spanish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation had awarded the remaining two 10-megahertz blocks of spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band to local carriers Orange and Telefonica.
Orange and Telefónica were the only two operators that took part in this last auction, each paying the starting price of 21 million euros for a 10-megahertz block.
In July, Spanish telecom operator Telefonica said its 5G network covered 82% of the Spanish population.
The operator said its 5G network provides coverage to 38 million people in 1,431 towns and cities across Spain.
By the end of 2022, the telco aims to reach 1,400 municipalities in Spain with its 5G service using this spectrum band, with the goal of reaching 2,400 by the end of 2023.
Rival operator Orange was offering 5G services in 1,222 towns and cities in 51 provinces across the country as of July. According to the operator, its 5G network infrastructure reaches 65% of the Spanish population.
Orange previously said it expects its 5G network to reach 1,500 localities by the end of this year.
Meanwhile, Masmovil is offering 5G service in almost 900 towns and cities in 40 provinces across Spain for the customers of its Yoigo brand.
According to the telco, 57% of the country’s population is already covered with its 5G network infrastructure.
Vodafone is also offering 5G services in the main cities across the country.
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