Spectrum in the 3600 MHz (3400-3480 MHz) frequency band that was not awarded in the 2021 auction was re-auctioned at regional, i.e. county level to create business opportunities for smaller, regional operators and to foster diversity of services.
The bidding process began in mid-January and lasted six weeks, and the decision to select the most favorable bidders was made on 8 March 2023. The public auction included the main bidding phase and the frequency block assignment phase. In the main bidding phase, bidders simultaneously submitted bids for the right to use one or multiple frequency blocks for all frequency bands. Upon the completion of the main phase, which determined the amount of RF spectrum to be allocated to each bidder, came the assignment phase that determined the final distribution of the RF spectrum among bidders, i.e. the exact position of each bidder’s frequency blocks within an individual frequency band.
The regional-level bidding took place in three rounds at the main auction stage, without the need to carry out the assignment phase. The new licenses have been issued for a period of 15 years, with an option to be extended by up to five years, as determined by the rules at the EU level.
The company Markoja has thus been awarded licenses for the use of the frequency spectrum for mobile communication services in six more Croatian counties:
- Bjelovar-Bilogora (30+10 MHz)
- Karlovac (30 MHz)
- Lika-Senj (10 MHz)
- Osijek-Baranja (30 MHz)
- Požega-Slavonia (30 MHz)
- Virovitica-Podravina (30+10 MHz).
The total amount of fees for the use of RF spectrum achieved at the public auction for the 3600 MHz frequency band at regional level is €187,150, of which Markoja d.o.o. invested €111,150.
As a reminder, in the auction for the RF spectrum concluded on 12 August 2021, Markoja was awarded concessions in three regions:
- Zagreb County (30 MHz)
- Šibenik-Knin County (70+10 MHz)
- Dubrovnik-Neretva County (70+10 MHz).
