Telecoms today are to bid in the second phase of the nation’s 5G spectrum auction to secure bandwidth on coveted frequency bands.
The National Communications Commission (NCC) said that the auction is to begin at 9:30am, when carriers would indicate by letter their preferred locations on the frequency bands.
Should two or more carriers ask for the same location, the commission would hold another auction at 2:30pm to determine the winner, the commission said.
NCC commissioners are to hold a meeting to confirm the results as soon as the auction ends, it said, adding that the result would be announced on the same day.
The first phase of the 5G spectrum auctions ended on Jan.16, with total bids of NT$138.08 billion (US$4.56 billion).
Although the commission released spectrum at the 1.8 gigahertz (GHz), 3.5GHz and 28GHz frequency bands, all five carriers focused on acquiring spectrum in the 3.5GHz band, as manufacturers have already produced terminal and network equipment for that particular band.
During the first auction, Chunghwa Telecom secured 90 megahertz (MHz) in the 3.5GHz band, while Far EasTone Telecommunications (FET), Taiwan Mobile and Taiwan Star Telecom obtained 80MHz, 60MHz and 40MHz respectively. Asia Pacific Telecom (APT) withdrew from the bidding, which also helped end the first phase that lasted 27 days.
In the 28GHz frequency band, Chunghwa secured 600MHz, while Taiwan Mobile, APT and FET obtained 200MHz, 400MHz and 400MHz respectively. Taiwan Star did not win any bandwidth in this band.
Carriers spent NT$136.43 billion to secure bandwidth in the 3.5GHz band, the NCC said, while the rest of the bids were spent on bandwidth in the 28GHz band. No bids were made for the 1.8GHz band.
Chunghwa was the top bidder in the first auction, spending NT$46.29 billion. FET and Taiwan Mobile paid NT$41.01 billion and NT$30.65 billion respectively, while Taiwan Star spent NT$19.7 billion and APT spent NT$412 million.
After the first phase concluded last month, the NCC gave carriers a little more than a month to negotiate their preferred locations, particularly those on the 3.5GHz band.
As of yesterday, they had not yet reached a deal, the commission said.
People familiar with the matter said that more than one carrier was eyeing the middle section of the frequency band, as it has less interference compared with the front and rear ends of the band.
The second phase of the auction is expected to further push up bids, industry observers said, adding that the nation’s 5G service could potentially be the most expensive in the world due to the high costs.
Italy and Germany generated about NT$150 billion and NT$140 billion respectively through 5G auctions, making them the most expensive 5G markets so far.
Taipei and New Taipei City government officials are aiming to have the first phase of the Wanhua-Jungho-Shulin Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line completed and opened by 2027, following the arrival of the first train set yesterday. The 22km-long Light Green Line would connect four densely populated districts in Taipei and New Taipei City: Wanhua (萬華), Jhonghe (中和), Tucheng (土城) and Shulin (樹林). The first phase of the project would connect Wanhua and Jhonghe districts, with Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Chukuang (莒光) being the terminal stations. The two municipalities jointly hosted a ceremony for the first train to be used
MILITARY AID: Taiwan has received a first batch of US long-range tactical missiles ahead of schedule, with a second shipment expected to be delivered by 2026 The US’ early delivery of long-range tactical ballistic missiles to Taiwan last month carries political and strategic significance, a military source said yesterday. According to the Ministry of National Defense’s budget report, the batch of military hardware from the US, including 11 sets of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and 64 MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems, had been scheduled to be delivered to Taiwan between the end of this year and the beginning of next year. However, the first batch arrived last month, earlier than scheduled, with the second batch —18 sets of HIMARS, 20 MGM-140 missiles and 864 M30
Representative to the US Alexander Yui delivered a letter from the government to US president-elect Donald Trump during a meeting with a former Trump administration official, CNN reported yesterday. Yui on Thursday met with former US national security adviser Robert O’Brien over a private lunch in Salt Lake City, Utah, with US Representative Chris Stewart, the Web site of the US cable news channel reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter. “During that lunch the letter was passed along, and then shared with Trump, two of the sources said,” CNN said. O’Brien declined to comment on the lunch, as did the Taipei
A woman who allegedly attacked a high-school student with a utility knife, injuring his face, on a Taipei metro train late on Friday has been transferred to prosecutors, police said yesterday. The incident occurred near MRT Xinpu Station at about 10:17pm on a Bannan Line train headed toward Dingpu, New Taipei City police said. Before police arrived at the station to arrest the suspect, a woman surnamed Wang (王) who is in her early 40s, she had already been subdued by four male passengers, one of whom was an off-duty Taipei police officer, police said. The student, 17, who sustained a cut about
RSS