Cellcom announced on Tuesday it has secured 1800-MHz frequencies in Israel’s latest 4G auction, which concluded on Monday.
In a brief statement on its Website, the domestic operator said it has been awarded a 3 MHz block of spectrum at a price of 6.5 million shekels (€1.4 million) per MHz.
Six telcos including Cellcom won airwaves.
Pelephone won 15 MHz, while Partner, Golan, Hot Mobile and new player 018,were each awarded 5 MHz. According to Cellcom, the prices paid ranged between NIS6.4 million and NIS6.9 million per MHz.
"The results of the tender require the approval of the minister of communications," Cellcom noted.
In July, the Ministry of Co mmunications (MoC) announced plans to allocate eight 5-MHz blocks of 1800-MHz spectrum – or seven 5-MHz blocks and one 3-MHz block – at a reserve price of 10 million shekels (€2.2 million) per 5 MHz of bandwidth.
The government admitted at the time that it does not have sufficient spectrum to allow all five of Israel’s 3G operators to roll out 4G networks. As such, it will permit operators to share networks, subject to certain conditions.
Cellcom, Partner, and Pelephone all launched LTE networks last summer. The first two got the nod to use 1800-MHz spectrum they already own, while Pelephone was loaned spectrum by the MoC pending the outcome of the auction.
