Ukraine’s National Commission for State Regulation of Communications and Informatization (NCCIR) has announced the results of the country’s 1800MHz 4G LTE mobile licence auction, raising a total of UAH5.434 billion (USD204 million) in one-off licence fees and awarding 2×75MHz of spectrum to the three leading Ukrainian mobile operators.
The market’s largest cellco by users Kyivstar (part of the VEON group) was the biggest winner, securing 2×10MHz via competitive bidding for UAH1.520 billion, and paying UAH1.325 billion for a further 2×25MHz block guaranteed to it prior to the auction (receiving a total 2×35MHz in the 1800MHz band for UAH2.845 billion).
Second-largest cellular operator Vodafone Ukraine (owned by Mobile TeleSystems [MTS] of Russia) won 2×5MHz for UAH742 million in the competitive auction, and was guaranteed a further 2×20MHz costing UAH1.325 billion (paying a total of UAH2.067 billion for 2×25MHz of 1800MHz spectrum).
Ukraine’s third-placed mobile player Lifecell (part of the Turkcell group) did not win any blocks in the competitive auction, but was guaranteed 2×15MHz in the 1800MHz band in return for UAH795 million.
All 1800MHz licences are valid for 15 years, nationwide. Earlier this year the same three operators all won 15-year 2600MHz LTE mobile licences – the first 4G concessions awarded in Ukraine.