The Communications Commission has concluded its auctions for the implementation of 5G mobile internet. “Cellfie Mobile” won the separate lots N18, N19 and N24, and was allocated 2600 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency bands. The price of the lots was GEL 226,800, GEL 226,800 and 1,386,000 respectively. “Cellfie Mobile” will be given 1 month to obtain a license and pay 30% of the aforementioned fee into the state budget. The operator will also have an obligation to allow a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) access to its infrastructure, for which it was afforded a 20% discount.

“Cellfie Mobile” also won the combined auction lot N2, receiving the right to use the 700 MHz and 3400-3600 MHz frequency bands. The combined lot cost GEL 2,657,445. Similar to the separate lots, the company will have to cover 30% of the fee within one month.

To implement 5G internet, the Communications Commission announced an auction for 4 combined and 20 separate lots. Only Cellfie took part in the auction despite the fact that the Commission took full account of the concerns expressed by major operators Magticom and Silknet regarding the terms of the auction. Specifically, in order to obtain the frequencies needed to implement the 5G technology, the operators initially had a duty to allow mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) access to their infrastructure for all 4 combined lots, for which they would obtain additional discounts. However, in order to allow the process of implementation of 5G to proceed smoothly, the Commission agreed to the demand by Magticom and Silknet to auction off one combined and two separate lots without the duty to give MVNOs access to infrastructure.

5G is a new generation of wireless internet technology that will significantly increase mobile internet speed compared to the existing technologies, decrease interruptions and take key sectors such as communications, healthcare, education, business, agriculture and infrastructure to a new level, which will in turn strengthen the country’s economy.