Croatia's telecommunications regulator HAKOM launched a public auction for the allocation of RF spectrum for fifth-generation (5G) mobile communications networks in the Republic of Croatia.
The auction will be conducted through electronic bidding, and requests to participate can be submitted until 11 June. There will be four separate procedures for the different frequency bands (700 MHz, 3600 MHz, 26 GHz, and 3600 MHz regionally).
Licences will be issued for a period of 15 years and maybe extended by up to five years. New licences in the Medimurje and Varazdin counties will be issued for a shorter period of 13 years as licences for 5G technology valid until 2023 have already been issued in those regions.
According to HAKOM press release, as the competition format was chosen simultaneous competition in more circles - Simultaneous Multi-Round Auction(SMRA), while the specific location of the frequency blocks per bidder will be determined in an additional round of bidding through sealed bids.
The regulator noted that the introduction of fifth-generation (5G) networks is one of the key factors for enabling the availability of broadband access to all households, reliable communication with low latency, and connecting a large number of devices.
Frequency bands will be allocated at the national level but also partly at a regional level to create business opportunities for smaller, regional operators and to encourage diversity of services, and provide end-users with a choice.
According to media reports, the three biggest operators in Croatia -- Hrvatski Telekom (HT), A1 Hrvatska, and Telemach Hrvatska -- have already announced interest, as have some others.