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    Home5G & BeyondUganda launches 5G spectrum auction

    Uganda launches 5G spectrum auction

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    The Uganda Communication Commission intends to complete the process by mid-August

    The Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) is offering spectrum in the 700MHz, 800MHz, 2.3GHz, 2.6GHz, 3.3GHz, 3.5GHz, 5GHz and E-band (71GHz-76GHz, 81GHz-86GHz) frequencies. The auction is open to licensed national telecom operators and those with regional public infrastructure licences. The national players can apply for regional or national spectrum allocations.

    The UCC has invited applications and said it hopes to complete the process by mid-August.

    Applicants must provide a bank guarantee of $1 million for the 700MHz and 800MHz sales, and $500,000 for the other bands, plus a clear five-year roll-out plan and agree to cover 90% of the licensed territory by the end of that fifth year.

    Further, they must provide an average downlink speed of 25Mbps for greater Kampala (pictured) and 15Mbps in other regional centres.

    The two national operators, MTN and Airtel, have both indicated they are ready to offer commercial 5G services when spectrum is allocated.