Portugal to launch 5G auctions this month in face of legal challenges

LISBON: Portugal’s telecoms regulator said on Friday it would start its delayed auctions of 5G frequency licences in November, even as major players warned they would go to court to challenge rules they said unfairly favoured new entrants.

The regulator ANACOM has reserved a spectrum in the 900 MHz and 1,800 Mhz bands for new entrants – part of what it says is push to encourage competition and improve services.

Overall Portugal is hoping to raise at least 238 million euros through the auctions that were delayed from early 2020 by the pandemic and are now expected to last into January, with licenses handed out in the first quarter.