The two telecoms companies operators, Airtel Networks Limited (Airtel) and Standard Network & Connections Limited (Standard Network) are two companies that have expressed interest in the auction of the 3.5GHz Spectrum band.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had set a deadline for the submission of bid for the earlier advertised 3.5GHz Spectrum band.
According to the NCC, only Airtel paid the Intention to Bid Deposit (IBD) as stipulated in the Information Memorandum (IM) whereas, Standard Network sent an email appeal for the deadline to be extended by twelve (12) working days which was not acceptable in view of the auction timetable.
“Having met all the provision in the IM, Airtel has, therefore, emerged as the sole Bidder.Consequently, there shall be no further bidding and the Commission will proceed to the Assignment Stage in line with the published Information Memorandum guiding the licensing process”, the Commission said.
It would be recalled that at the stakeholders’ engagement on the draft Information Memorandum (IM) for the auctioning of additional two lots of 100MHz in the 3.5Ghz band of the 5G technology, Airtel Nigeria, the loser of last year’s 3.5GHz Spectrum auction wanted to be compensated by specially been granted administrative right to take one of the lot without bidding but the NCC declined the request.
However, today fate smiled on it with Standard Network been unable to make the bid payment.
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