The Isle of Man’s Communications and Utilities Regulatory Authority (CURA) has published a final information memorandum on its plans to award spectrum licences in the 700MHz and 3.6GHz bands. The announcement follows a consultation on the matter, launched in July 2021, that set out the regulator’s preliminary views on the processes for offering up new concessions. Included in the plans were: details of the spectrum to be awarded; the timescale of the sale process; and the proposed auction rules.
In short, CURA has now confirmed that would-be bidders will be required to apply to take part in the sale between 17 January and 21 January 2022. Meanwhile, with the format of the award process having been set as a single sealed bid auction, the regulator has confirmed that applicants will have the option of submitting up to five supplementary bids, though these will only be considered in the event that a qualified bidder’s primary bid is not successful.
A total of 49 spectrum lots are being offered in the auction, comprising: six lots of 2×5MHz in the 700MHz band (703MHz-733MHz/759MHz-788MHz), with a per-bidder cap of 15MHz paired spectrum applying; a further four unpaired 5MHz lots in the 700MHz band (738MHz-758MHz), with a 10MHz cap applying; and 39 10MHz blocks in the 3.6GHz band (3410MHz-3800MHz), with a 100MHz cap applying.
Further, CURA has noted it is holding meetings with interested parties to ‘discuss and provide detailed guidance on the licence award application documentation’; these meetings are being held between 6 December and 17 December.
