Estonia looks set to offer three licences for 5G-ready 3.5GHz spectrum at auction in the first quarter of next year.
The country’s Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology Andres Sutt has stated that each permit will 130MHz of spectrum between 3410MHz and 3800MHz.
CommsUpdate notes that the auction has been delayed by several factors, including amendments to Estonia’s Electronic Communications Act and disputes over the number of licences to be made available. Estonia has three active mobile players – Elisa, Tele2 and Telia.
Sutt acknowledged this in his statement, saying: “Today’s decision marks the end of very long negotiations that held back the development of high speed internet and 5G in Estonia. This issue has been discussed for the last 2-3 years, under the leadership of several different IT ministers, and now we have come to a conclusion.”