Vietnam’s largest mobile operator, Viettel, which is set to launch operations in Peru next year, picked up more spectrum bands at yesterday’s auction in Peru. The carrier will pay a total of U.S.$48.43 million to secure four bands in the 900 MHz spectrum.
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Viettel presented an offer that was 21% higher than the auction’s base price. The carrier was granted the 899-915 MHz and 944-960 MHz bands in the provinces of Lima and Callao, as well as the 902-915 MHz and 947-960 MHz bands to offer telecom services in the rest of the country. Viettel has a year and a half to deploy its network in the 900 MHz spectrum nationally.
Among its obligations, Viettel needs to connect 718 government institutions (438 schools, 112 health centers and 168 municipalities) in the poorest districts of the country without charge by August 2014. Meanwhile, the carrier is set to launch commercial services on its 3G network, targeting low-income users in January 2013.
This auction took place after being postponed twice by ProInversión, the agency tasked with promoting private investment in the country. The available frequency spectrum bands were in the provinces of Lima and Callao (899MHz-915MHz and 944MHz-960MHz) and the 902MHz-915MHz and the 947MHz-960MHz bands covering the rest of the country.
Americatel, which is owned by the Chilean Entel, was a potential competitor for the bands; however, the company did not offer a bid.
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