5G spectrum auction ends and real competition begins

Artist : Ms. Viola Liang

Taiwan’s 5G spectrum auction came to an end on 21 February 2020. The five incumbents secured the 5G spectrum following a competitive auction with total bids reaching NT$142.191 billion (approximately $4.7 billion) which will be paid within 30 days following the National Communications Commission’s (NCC’s) notice.

Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) obtained 90MHz of spectrum in the 3.5GHz band for NT$47.755 billion and secured 600MHz in the 28GHz band for NT$618 million.

Far EasTone Telecommunications (FET) spent NT$42.63 billion to secure 80MHz in the 3.5GHz band and NT$412 million for 400MHz in the 28GHz band.

Taiwan Mobile got 60MHz of spectrum in the 3.5GHz band for NT$30.4 billion and also secured 200MHz in the 28GHz band for NT$206 million.

Taiwan Star obtained 40MHz in the 3.5GHz band for NT$19.708 billion, and Asia Pacific Telecom secured 40MHz at 28GHz for NT$412 million.

Band Bandwidth Operator

1800MHz

C7 (previously C6-2 and C6-3, which were made available for application in 2017): uplink 1,775MHz~1785MHz; downlink 1,870MHz~1880MHz (with 10MHz each for uplink and downlink)

NA

3500MHz

F1: 3,300MHz~3,310MHz (10MHz for a single block)

Taiwan Star

 

F2: 3,310MHz~3,320MHz (10MHz for a single block)

Taiwan Star

 

F3: 3,320MHz~3,330MHz (10MHz for a single block)

Taiwan Star

 

F4: 3,330MHz~3,340MHz (10MHz for a single block)

Taiwan Star

 

F5: 3,340MHz~3,350MHz (10MHz for a single block)

FET

 

F6: 3,350MHz~3,360MHz (10MHz for a single block)

FET

 

F7: 3,360MHz~3,370MHz (10MHz for a single block)

FET

 

F8: 3,370MHz~3,380MHz (10MHz for a single block)

FET

 

F9: 3,800MHz~3,390MHz (10MHz for a single block)

FET

 

F10: 3,390MHz~3,400MHz (10MHz for a single block)

FET

 

F11: 3,400MHz~3,410MHz (10MHz for a single block)

FET

 

F12: 3,410MHz~3,420MHz (10MHz for a single block)

FET

 

F13: 3,420MHz~3,430MHz (10MHz for a single block)

CHT

 

F14: 3,430MHz~3,440MHz (10MHz for a single block)

CHT

 

F15: 3,440MHz~3,450MHz (10MHz for a single block)

CHT

 

F16: 3,450MHz~3,460MHz (10MHz for a single block)

CHT

 

F17: 3,460MHz~3,470MHz (10MHz for a single block)

CHT

 

F18: 3,470MHz~3,480MHz (10MHz for a single block)

CHT

 

F19: 3,480MHz~3,490MHz (10MHz for a single block)

CHT

 

F20: 3,490MHz~3,500MHz (10MHz for a single block)

CHT

 

F21: 3,500MHz~3,510MHz (10MHz for a single block)

CHT

 

F22: 3,510MHz~3,520MHz (10MHz for a single block)

Mobile Taiwan

 

F23: 3,520MHz~3,530MHz (10MHz for a single block)

Taiwan Mobile

 

F24: 3,530MHz~3,540MHz (10MHz for a single block)

Taiwan Mobile

 

F25: 3,540MHz~3,550MHz (10MHz for a single block)

Taiwan Mobile

 

F26: 3,550MHz~3,560MHz (10MHz for a single block)

 

Taiwan Mobile

 

F27: 3,560MHz~3,570MHz (10MHz for a single block)

 

Taiwan Mobile

28000MHz

G1: 27,000MHz~27,100MHz (100MHz for a single block)

N/A

 

G2: 27,100MHz~27,200MHz (100MHz for a single block)

N/A

 

G3: 27,200MHz~27,300MHz (100MHz for a single block)

N/A

 

G4: 27,300MHz~27,400MHz (100MHz for a single block)

N/A

 

G5: 27,400MHz~27,500MHz (100MHz for a single block)

N/A

 

G6: 27,500MHz~27,600MHz (100MHz for a single block)

N/A

 

G7: 27,600MHz~27,700MHz (100MHz for a single block)

N/A

 

G8: 27,700MHz~27,800MHz (100MHz for a single block)

N/A

 

G9: 27,800MHz~27,900MHz (100MHz for a single block)

N/A

 

G9: 27,000MHz~27,100MHz (100MHz for a single block)

N/A

 

G10: 27,900MHz~28,000MHz (100MHz for a single block)

CHT

 

G11: 28,000MHz~28,100MHz (100MHz for a single block)

CHT

 

G12: 28,100MHz~28,200MHz (100MHz for a single block)

CHT

 

G13: 28,200MHz~28,300MHz (100MHz for a single block)

CHT

 

G14: 28,300MHz~28,400MHz (100MHz for a single block)

CHT

 

G15: 28,400MHz~28,500MHz (100MHz for a single block)

CHT

 

G16: 28,500MHz~28,600MHz (100MHz for a single block)

FET

 

G17: 28,600MHz~28,700MHz (100MHz for a single block)

FET

 

G18: 28,700MHz~28,800MHz (100MHz for a single block)

FET

 

G19: 28,800MHz~28,900MHz (100MHz for a single block)

FET

 

G20: 28,900MHz~29,000MHz (100MHz for a single block)

APT

 

G21: 29,000MHz~29,100MHz (100MHz for a single block)

APT

 

G22: 29,100MHz~29,200MHz (100MHz for a single block)

APT

 

G23: 29200MHz~29300MHz (100MHz for a single block)

APT

 

G24: 29,300MHz~29,400MHz (100MHz for a single block)

Taiwan Mobile

 

G25: 29,400MHz~29,500MHz (100MHz for a single block)

Taiwan Mobile

The winner of each frequency slot in the 3.5GHz band will be required to install a minimum of 1,000 5G base stations within five years covering not less than 50% of the national population. In other words, a wide penetration across all six metropolitan areas on Taiwan island will be expected. The winner of each frequency slot in the 28GHz band will be required to install a minimum of 375 5G base stations and no more than 3,000. (For more details of the 5G rules, please see “NCC publishes 5G spectrum auction rules”.)

The 5G spectrum auction finally ends and the real competition begins. The regulation governing mobile broadband services requires operators to file for an amendment to their deployment plan and information security plan subsequent to the bid price being paid. CHT, among the incumbents of mobile broadband services, has made the first move by fully paying the bid and submission of its updated deployment plan aiming for the 5G service launch prior to opening of the Tokyo Olympics 2020. On the other hand, APT and Taiwan Mobile have agreed to 5G network sharing in the 3.5GHz band in the third quarter of 2020 by a spectrum lease from Taiwan Mobile to APT pending the NCC’s approval.

The materials contained on this website are for general information purposes only and are subject to the disclaimer.

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