Spain Launches Plan To Distribute Mobile Spectrum For Telecoms

15th Jun 2010 13:15

MADRID (Dow Jones)--Spain's Industry ministry has laid out a plan to distribute frequencies to telecommunications companies as the country looks to expand access to next-generation mobile Internet services. The Spanish government will allocate the 800 megahertz band previously used by analog television and redistribute the 900 megahertz, 1,800 megahertz and 2.6 gigahertz frequencies, an official from the Industry ministry said Tuesday. The Industry Ministry didn't say whether it would auction the frequencies to the mobile operators but said the frequencies would be assigned in 2011. Telecommunications companies will have until July 15 to express their opinions about how the redistribution process should be held, the person added. The 800 megahertz and 2.6 gigahertz frequencies are especially valuable for mobile operators that are developing high-speed networks to power data-hungry smartphones. Mobile Internet has grown exponentially in recent years and more spectrum is needed for a growing number of laptop data cards and smartphones that use applications like mapping services, music and video. Telecommunications companies Telefonica SA (TEF), Vodafone PLC (VOD), France Telecom SA's (FTE) Orange and Yoigo are Spain's main mobile Internet providers. -By Jason Sinclair, Dow Jones Newswires; 34 91 395 8127; [email protected] (END) Dow Jones Newswires June 15, 2010 08:15 ET (12:15 GMT)