Telco Insights - 5G Spectrum Auction in Norway Raises $445 million

The auction in Norway for 5G spectrum has raised nearly NOK 3.9 billion ($445 million), with four companies paying for an allocation of 400 MHz in the 3.6 GHz range and 190 MHz of TDD spectrum in the 2.6 GHz range. The companies that have acquired the spectrum are Telenor, Telia, Altibox and Ice. As part of this process, bidders had to commit to providing broadband services that offer download speeds of at least 100 Mbps. In turn, there was a price break of approximately NOK 480 million ($55 million).

It is anticipated that Telenor, Telia and Ice will all leverage this new spectrum for their 5G networks owing to their position as network operators with direct mobile subscriber relationships. However, Altibox is primarily a broadband and TV service. It is likely to use the spectrum to complement its continuing fibre roll-outs, with the eventual aim of providing a complete network to underpin its service portfolio.