North Macedonia’s Agency for Electronic Communications (AEK) has begun a tender process for 5G-ready spectrum in the 700MHz and 3.6GHz (3400MHz-3800MHz) bands.
Bids will be reviewed on 1st December 2021, with reserve prices for the spectrum ranging from EUR1.25 million (US$1.4 million) to EUR2.75 million. Licences will be valid for 15 years, with the option to extend for an additional five years.
CommsUpdate reports that three holdings will be made available in the 700MHz band, along with two in the 3.6GHz band. A further four blocks of spectrum in the 3.4315GHz-3.460GHz range, which is suitable for fixed services, will be put to auction. These concessions will be valid for six years.
In July 2021, the AEK received expressions of interest from four operators for the available 5G licences, with A1 Macedonia, Bitstream Mobile, Makedonski Telekom and Neotel all interested.
