Brazilian regulator Anatel has confirmed that 9 companies have registered to bid in its upcoming multi-band auction.
Unused spectrum is available in several bands, including 1.8GHz, 1.9GHz and 2.5GHz. The 9 companies interested in these frequencies are Claro, Clivo Participacoes, Lig Telecomunicacoes, Nextel, Sercomtel, Sky, Telefonica, Tim and TPA Telecomunicacoes. Bidding commences on December 17.
Anatel has divided the available frequencies into 3 lots, and these firms will bid on the spectrum contained in the A and B lots. Participants do not need to register interest in order to bid for the C lot, which is expected to attract small and medium municipal providers.
The Brazilian Association of Internet and Telecommunications Service Providers has called for the auction to be postponed, claiming that participants may be deterred as there is inadequate preparation time between the auction notice being published and the auction being conducted.
4G spectrum in the 700MHz was auctioned off in Brazil last year; however the auctions did not bring in as much revenue as predicted, since only 3 of the country’s 4 nationwide operators joined the bidding.
