Honduran telecommunications regulator Conatel has awarded two 3.5Ghz band licenses intended for use in WiMAX services, Conatel president José Renán Caballero said.
Inversiones Apollo and Metrored, a unit of Central American operator Navega, which is partners with Millicom, won the two licenses by bidding a total of US$345 thousand. According to Caballero, the amount paid far surpassed Conatel's expectations.
The licenses are valid for five years. Caballero said he believed the companies would start to build out WiMAX networks by year-end or the beginning of 2006, adding that the licenses cover the entire country.
"I imagine they will probably launch the service first in the large cities," Caballero said.
This is the second set of licenses sold in the 3.5Ghz band. Multidata and Hondutel were awarded licenses several years ago but so far have not taken advantage of them to develop WiMAX.
In other news, Conatel will start a consultation period in August before launching an auction for a license to use a portion of the 800Mhz band that is currently used for fixed wireless and data services. The license will likely be awarded in the fourth quarter of 2005, Caballero said.
Source: Business News Americas - WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News
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