Montenegro’s major operators Crnogorski Telekom (CT), MTEL and One Montenegro have all acquired 5G-ready spectrum in the 700MHz and 3.6GHz bands.
Regulator EKIP (Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services) conducted the auctions late last month. As reported by CommsUpdate, the three operators bid a combined EUR8.836 million (USD9.435 million) to obtain the spectrum.
CT was the highest bidder, spending EUR3.108 million on 2×10MHz blocks of 700MHz spectrum and a single 140MHz block of 3.6GHz spectrum. One and MTEL acquired the same amount of airwaves - 2×10MHz of 700MHz spectrum and 120MHz of 3.6GHz – for respective bids of EUR2.978 million and EUR2.750 million. EKIP stated that available blocks of unpaired spectrum in both the 700MHz and 26GHz bands went unsold.
Under the terms of their licences, the winning bidders must have active 5G networks in every municipality nationwide by end-2024, achieve minimum 50% population coverage with 5G by end-2026, and cover all settlements and main roads by end-2030.
In terms of coverage obligations, the three operators will be required to activate 5G networks in every municipality of the country by the end of 2024, provide coverage to at least 50% of the country’s population by end-2026, and extend their 5G footprint to all populated places, highways and main roads by end-2030.
