News
SK Telecom, KT, LG Uplus all apply to take part; sale expected to raise 2 billion.
South Korea’s latest spectrum auction is expected to get underway this month, with the country’s big three telcos all expected to take part.
The Korea Herald reports that on Tuesday SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus all submitted applications to the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIP).
"The ministry will soon start a reviewing process of the applicants and begin the bidding process later this month," MSIP said in the report.
A total of 140 MHz of spectrum split between the 700 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2.1 GHz and 2.6 GHz bands is up for grabs.
According to the report, the stakes are high because Korea’s operators are keen to improve the efficiency of their networks by acquiring frequencies in bands that are adjacent to their existing holdings.
The process is expected to raise at least 2.6 trillion won (€2.02 billion). That compares to KRW2.9 trillion paid at 2013’s spectrum auction, and KRW1.7 trillion in 2011, The Korea Herald said.
