Slovenia launches multi-band spectrum auction

The Slovenian telecoms regulator APEK published a tender for the award of radio frequencies for providing public communications services (OJ RS, No. 114/2013, p 3515, 31 December 2013). Spectrum in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz and 2600 MHz bands is included in the award process as set out in the following table.

Source: CAF Blog, OJ RS, No. 114/2013,p 3515.

The reserve price for all available lots is EUR 104.630.000.

Spectrum caps

All bids will be subject to the following spectrum caps:

• 2 × 30 MHz in the 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands (jointly);
• 2 × 15 MHz in the 900 MHz band;
• 2 × 30 MHz in the 1800 MHz band;
• 2 × 105 MHz in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz and 2600 MHz bands (paired), including existing spectrum usage rights in the 2100 MHz band (paired).

Reservations

Two 2 x 5 MHz blocks (category A3) in the 800 MHz band are reserved for new entrants or existing operators with a market share of active end-users of at most 15%.

The amount of reserved spectrum will be determined as follows:

• If in the initial bids there is a demand for two 2 x 5 MHz blocks (in category A3) from qualified bidders, both blocks will be reserved;
• If in the initial bids there is a demand for only one 2 x 5 MHz block (in category A3) from qualified bidders, only one 2 x 5 MHz block will be reserved and the A2 lot, subject to special coverage and roll-out obligation, will be increased to 2 x 15 MHz;
• If in the initial bids there is no demand for reserved spectrum, the A2 lot, subject to special coverage and roll-out obligation, will be increased to 2 x 15 MHz and the number of lots in category A1 will be increased from two to three.

Coverage obligation

Winners of spectrum below 1 GHz are required to offer commercially available wireless electronic communications services as follow:

(1) Existing operators and new entrants winning the reserved spectrum (in category A3) in the 800 MHz band:

• To 25% of the population within 1 year;
• To 50% of the population within 2 years; and
• To 75% of the population within 3 years.

(2) New entrants:

• To 25% of the population within 2 years;
• To 50% of the population within 3 years; and
• To 75% of the population within 5 years.

New entrants that also win the reserved spectrum (in category A3) are required to offer services as stated in Paragraph (1).

Winners of spectrum above 1 GHz are required to offer commercially available wireless electronic communications services as follow:

• To 25% of the population within 3 years; and
• To 40% of the population within 5 years.

Special coverage obligation

In addition to the general coverage and roll-out obligation, the winner of the block with a special coverage obligation (in category A2) is required to provide mobile broadband services at a downlink speed of no less than 10 Mbit/s at outdoor locations to at least 95% of the population of the Republic of Slovenia within 3 years. This obligation can be achieved by using any of the frequencies awarded to the operator concerned.

Additionally, the coverage must include at least 75% of the 300 settlements or groups of settlements, specified in the tender documents, without access (or only with partial access) to fixed broadband services:

• 75 locations in 1 year;
• 150 locations in 2 years; and
• 225 locations in 3 years.

The operator must provide specified services to at least 75% of the population in each settlement or a group of settlements. At these locations, the operator must provide both mobile services and a substitute to fixed broadband services (i.e. Fixed Wireless Broadband Access - FWBA). The operator must provide fixed wireless broadband access to households, businesses or institutions without access to fixed broadband services with downlink speeds of at least 10 Mbit/s. For this purpose, the operator must provide an indoor or outdoor customer premises equipment (CPE), providing a “customer experience” downlink speed of at least 10 Mbit/s and a guaranteed minimum downlink speed of at least 2 Mbit/s and a guaranteed minimum uplink speed of at least 1 Mbit/s. This obligation can be achieved by using any of the frequencies awarded to the operator concerned. For further details see the tender documents.

Assignment process

Spectrum will be awarded using a combinatorial clock auction. For the description of the auction process and rules see the tender documents.

Deadline

The deadline for submission of bids is 17 February 2014, 10:00 local time.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this post does not constitute an official translation of tender information, and neither the translator nor CAF Blog cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracy or omission in the translation. Official information is provided at www.apek.si.