New Zealand awards 700MHz spectrum
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New Zealand awards 700MHz spectrum

Vodafone, Telecom NZ and 2degrees have been awarded 4G mobile spectrum in the 700MHz band in New Zealand’s auction, according to local reports today.

Telecom NZ and Vodafone both successfully bid on three lots of 2x15MHz for US$54.55 million each, and Kiwi mobile operator 2degrees secured two lots of 2x10MHz bandwidth.

Both Telecom NZ and Vodafone have been making progress with the roll-out of 4G mobile broadband services to customers in rural areas of the country, and Amy Adams, communications and information technology minister, was pleased with the result.

"Overall, this is a successful outcome for the auction that bodes well for the future of competitive 4G mobile services in New Zealand,” Adams said.

One 2x5MHz lot was left unsold and Adams said that it would either be re-auctioned in a supplementary allocation round, or retained by the government and sold at a later date.

The auction in the 700MHz band was first announced in February this year.

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