The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation released a consultation this week regarding the framework for frequency offerings in the 26 GHz band, the last 5G spectrum to be auctioned, with an initial price set around 105 million euros.
Unlike prior auctions, this process will include a national spectrum segment. It outlines 12 concessions with a starting price of 7.5 million euros each, alongside a regional division comprising 38 concessions, with two per Community and Autonomous City, according to the draft order.
For regional concessions, pricing shifts to 1.2 million euros from each regional party in Catalonia, with Ceuta and Melilla concessions valued at just over 13,000 euros each.
Concessions are planned for a 20-year term, potentially extendable for another 20 years, in line with terms established during the last auction of the 700 MHz band.
The tender is expected to occur before year-end and aligns with the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan as one of Brussels-endorsed reforms.
The consultation remains open until October 27, continuing the government’s engagement on this latest 5G tender, which began early in the year.
The executive proposes national groups to occupy 2,400 MHz and regional allocations at 400 MHz, all distributed within 200 MHz bands, with a cap of 1 GHz per operator in any domain.
Interested companies must demonstrate financial solvency by presenting three years of accounts demonstrating a credible business volume based on the concessions they seek. The threshold for those seeking five national concessions is set at 9.3 million euros, with proven experience in network deployment also required.
Uses of the spectrum
In this consultation, opinions differ among operators and other stakeholders regarding the 24.25-24.70 GHz range, which is intended for local, non-exclusive, self-service use. This means other telecom operators can rely on the spectrum’s existence without exclusive rights.
One sector expected to gain significant benefits from this band is manufacturing, as private networks are anticipated to enable connected factories to operate with dedicated broadband alongside general-use networks.
The regime draws on practices seen in the United States and Germany, providing businesses with greater assurances around cybersecurity and network availability.
Because the 26 GHz band supports substantial data capacity but covers limited distance, it is well suited for deployments inside factories or in venues with high device or foot traffic such as airports and stadiums.
Some operators have criticized the approach, noting that while bidding for the tape could accelerate testing and deployment, the technology to fully exploit the spectrum remains maturing. A new business 5G support program with a budget of 90 million euros has been announced for two years to aid companies that move forward in this space. [citation]