The Netherlands’ telecommunications regulator has announced that KPN, Odido, and VodafoneZiggo each secured 100 MHz of spectrum in the valuable 3.5GHz band. This auction, anticipated for years, brings significant developments in the country’s 5G landscape.
The auction raised €174.4 million, with KPN investing €58.4 million, VodafoneZiggo €57.5 million, and Odido, previously known as T-Mobile Netherlands, acquiring its share for a comparable amount. These licenses will be valid until 2040, offering a stable foundation for advanced 5G services.
A delay in the spectrum allocation, initially slated for 2021, was caused by a legal dispute with satellite operator Inmarsat. Inmarsat used the spectrum for emergency maritime communications. The conflict was resolved when Inmarsat agreed to move its ground station to Greece.
Joost Farwerck, CEO of KPN, remarked, “The newly acquired 3.5 GHz licenses will increase network capacity and enable higher throughput for our customers to enter the next phase of 5G. The auction outcome allows us to continue offering high-quality mobile services and to develop new and innovative 5G services for our customers, in line with our Connect, Activate & Grow strategy.”
VodafoneZiggo’s CTO, Thomas Helbo, shared similar enthusiasm: “Securing additional spectrum will not only further strengthen our mobile services and 5G-activities, but also ensure that we can continue to innovate, drive digital transformation, and support sustainable development.”
These advancements are crucial as the Netherlands already boasts one of the leading mobile networks globally. VodafoneZiggo launched the country’s first nationwide 5G network four years ago. KPN’s advancements in 5G via the 700 MHz band have also achieved international recognition for their superior network quality and coverage.
