Spain to Auction 2.6 GHz Spectrum for 4G by End of 2015

Spain will auction mobile phone spectrum in the 2.6 GHz band for fourth generation networks before the end of 2015.

Spain said in August 2011 it had raised 1.82 billion euros ($2.4 billion) from the sale of 800-MHz frequencies. Spain's biggest mobile operators, Telefonica, Vodafone and Orange, acquired major blocks of the 270 MHz worth of spectrum in that auction.

Telefonica emerged as the biggest acquirer, spending EUR668.31 million for two lots of 2×5 MHz of spectrum in the 800 MHz band, a single 2×5 MHz block in the 900 MHz band and two lots of 2×10 MHz in the 2.6 GHz band.

Vodafone Group’s local subsidiary, Vodafone Spain, spent EUR517.59 million for a total of 60 MHz of new frequencies across the 800MHz and 2600MHz bands.

Vodafone Spain acquired  two 2×5 MHz spectrum blocks in the 800MHz, alongside a total of 40 MHz in the 2600MHz band.

Orange Espana spent EUR437.04 million for a total of 20 MHz in the 800 MHz band and 40 MHz in the 2.6 GHz band.