Lithuania’s Communications Regulatory Authority (RRT / Rysiu Reguliavimo Tarnyba) has commenced the sale of 700MHz spectrum for 5G mobile use.
CommsUpdate reports that one 2×10MHz block will be available for bidding with a reserve price of EUR5 million, with two 2×5MHz holdings also available at a reserve price of EUR3 million. The initial validity period of the licences is 20 years.
In January this year, the RRT granted interested parties an extra two months to submit their applications for the forthcoming 700MHz auction, extending the deadline to 25th March 2022. Lithuania’s three established mobile operators - Bite Lithuania, Tele2 Lithuania and Telia Lietuva – all registered to bid.
The licences come with deployment obligations attached, with winning bidders required to begin a commercial 5G offering within six months in at least one of Lithuania’s five largest cities (Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipeda, Siauliai and Panevezys). The service must be extended to all five by the end of 2023.
