Multiband Auction 800/900/1800 MHz (2013) - Background Information

On 14 November 2011, the Telekom-Control-Commission (TKK) initiated Procedure F1/11 for the joint allocation of frequencies in the 800, 900 and 1800 MHz bands. In its meeting on 19 September 2011, the TKK decided to use the combinatorial clock auction (CCA) format previously deployed in the allocation of frequencies in the 2.6 GHz band.

According to the original plan, the tender documentation was to be published in April 2012 and the auction was scheduled for September 2012. However, on 23 April 2012, the TKK decided to postpone the invitation to tender due to the pending takeover of Orange Austria Telecommunication GmbH. 

As early as February 2011, the regulatory authority carried out a consultation on this frequency allocation procedure:

• Consultation document
• Comments and opinions received in the consultation
• Results of the consultation

In March 2012, Austria’s highest telecommunications authority published a set of “Fundamentals regarding the preparation of technical terms and conditions of use for the assignment of the digital dividend” (OFB info letter 1/2012, in German).

In January 2013, the TKK published a draft of the technical terms and conditions of use. 

In March 2013, the TKK published the Tender Documents. On October 21, the auction was completed successfully.