The Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) has opened applications for its upcoming multi-band auction of 5G spectrum.
The regulator is aiming to complete the auction process before the end of August 2023, and both national and regional licence holders are invited to bid. Airwaves in the 700MHz, 800MHz, 2.3GHz, 2.6GHz, 3.3GHz, 3.5GHz, 5GHz bands as well as E-band (71GHz-76GHz, 81GHz-86GHz) spectrum will be made available.
Participants will require a bank guarantee of US$1 million to acquire spectrum in the 700MHz and 800MHz bands, and US$500,000 for the other bands. Bidders must submit a feasible five-year deployment strategy that will guarantee 90% coverage of the licensed area by the end of the fifth year, with a guaranteed 25Mbps average downlink speed for greater Kampala (reduced to 15Mbps for other population hubs).
TeleGeography reports that Uganda’s two leading operators, the local units of MTN and Airtel, have confirmed that they are prepared to launch commercial 5G services upon receiving their spectrum holdings.
