PolicyTracker Spectrum Database updated with latest auction results and awards

The database has also been updated to show the ongoing exit of Spanish operator Telefonica and its Movistar brand from South America. This affects Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and Uruguay.

Many of Movistar’s licences have been acquired by Millicom, which has quickly expanded across South America. These licenses are now shown in the PolicyTracker Spectrum Database and Data Explorer under Millicom’s Tigo brand. The shift represents a major change in the South American market, as the telecoms giant retreats to focus on its European operation.

Pakistan held its thrice-delayed auction for 5G spectrum in March. Operators Jazz, Zong and Ufone paid $510 million for a total of 480 MHz of spectrum. This auction provided a major addition to the spectrum holdings of all three operators. Before the auction, Pakistan was only using four spectrum bands.

Bangladesh auctioned 10 MHz of the 700 MHz band in January, in an unusual auction that involved a single operator. The regulator tightened the spectrum cap from 2 x 15 MHz to 2 x 10 MHz per operator ahead of the contest, reflecting its concern that there might only be one bidder.

In the aftermath, the Bangladeshi government directly assigned 2 x 10 MHz to state-owned Teletalk, which did not participate in the auction and has unpaid spectrum fees.

Canada auctioned hundreds of residual licences for various regions of the country. Most notably, Telus acquired dozens of new 3.8 GHz licences for $317.6 million. They cover 15% of the country’s population.

North Macedonia allowed a third player into its market, One Makedonija Telekomunikacii, which purchased new licences in the 700 MHz, 1800 MHz and 3.5-3.6 GHz bands for €8 million. This was a long-planned move by the regulator to stimulate more competition.

Finally, we have updated the database with new assignments made by Egypt in the 1800 MHz, 2.6 GHz and 3.5 GHz bands, set to come into effect in the next two years.

We have made a minor change to the Data Explorer. The Country Auction Timelines tab has been renamed Country Awards and now shows the total paid for a band and the $/MHz/pop value in two separate graphs.

Please note that the $/MHz/pop figures are not available where the band was sold as part of a package.

The PolicyTracker Spectrum Database provides information on spectrum allocation, assignment, and licence pricing in over 100 countries. It is available as an Excel document. Information from the database is also accessible on our interactive web-based database and our Data Explorer function.