Mired in disputes, Portugal’s 5G auction drags on with no end in sight

LISBON: Already at war with the three companies that dominate Portugal’s mobile phone market, national regulator ANACOM is coming under fire from the government over a 5G auction that has been dragging on for months with no end in sight.

Delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the auction of several spectrum lots was eventually launched by ANACOM in January, despite legal challenges from major players who say the rules unfairly favour new entrants.