Nearly A Dozen Companies Vie For Entry Into The Hungarian Mobile Market

As the result of the tenders, as many as two new mobile operators could enter the Hungarian market and be awarded frequency use authorisations for a period 15 years.

One of these new operators can obtain a frequency set similar to that of the three existing mobile operators. The other applicant is in competition for the authorisation to use the 450 MHz frequency range that is currently not in use. This service could lead to a significant improvement in the wireless broadband Internet coverage of sparsely populated regions and villages.

The NHH has also announced another five packages regarding the use of the 26 GHz frequency range. “This range could play a crucial role in the development of the internal infrastructure of mobile operators and other market players as well as large corporations for example; furthermore, it could contribute to expanding current levels of wireless broadband Internet coverage in Hungary," the NCA said.

Today in Hungary, there are 116.4 mobile phone subscriptions for every 100 persons and 40 broadband Internet subscriptions per 100 households. The ratio of ADSL and cable modem Internet accesses are gradually becoming more even, while domestic and European experience shows that in the future wireless solutions offering mobility will play an increasingly important role on the broadband Internet market.

Tender documentations may be purchased between 22 October and 19 November and must be submitted on November 20 between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

Announcement of the results of the GSM/DCS/UMTS and the 450 MHz tenders will take place on 22 December this year at the earliest, while the announcement of the results of the 26 GHz tenders could take place on 30 January 2009 at the earliest.

More information about the tenders are available here."

Source: Portfolio Online Financial Journal