Croatia awards 10 WiMAX licenses

WiMAX networks will provide competition to the incumbent T-HT’s local loop

Croatia's telecoms regulator has awarded 10 fixed line broadband wireless licenses for WiMAX in 3.5GHz, with WiMAX Telecom, one of the most progressive start-up operators in Europe, gaining a license for certain regions to add to its existing holdings in Austria and Slovakia.

VIPnet and Odašiljaèi i Veze (OiV) received licenses in the capital Zagreb, while those for the Splitsko-Dalmatinska and Primorsko-Goranska counties went to Portus, Optima Telekom, WiMAX Telecom and OiV. There were 22 bids for the 10 allocations.

Telecoms Agency president, Gašper Gaæina, said the WiMAX networks will provide competition to the incumbent T-HT’s local loop, stimulating liberalization of the Croatian market and bringing prices down by an estimated 30%.

The licenses areissued for five years, with the fee for the first year of use ranging from HRK 135,000-270,000 (€18,360-36,700), depending on the coverage area and type of service. For subsequent years the fee will be 1% of total revenues. Services are expected to launch from May next year and further licenses will be awarded next year for other regions. A license was previously issued to OiV for the Meðumurska county.

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This article originally ran in Wireless Watch, a publication of Rethink Research. Reproduced with permission. For information on the weekly Wireless Watch Newsletter and other Rethink Research products and services, click here.