The Communications Commission has declared Magticom the winner of separate lots in the second auction for the implementation of 5G and awarded the operator the licenses for the use of the appropriate frequency resource. Specifically, Magticom was awarded the license to use 700, 800 and 3410-3710 MHz frequency bands for a period of 15 years. The total cost of the lots was GEL 77,125,735. The operator has already paid 30% of the total amount into the state budget, and must pay the remaining 70% within a year after obtaining the license. 

As part of the auction, Magticom was also declared the winner of the combined lot N1 and was awarded the license for the use of the appropriate frequency resource. Furthermore, the company has also applied for separate lots in the 2600 MHz frequency band, with the auction set to take place on 22 October. After obtaining the relevant licenses, the operator will be obliged to gradually cover densely populated settlements, tourist areas, ports, airports, railway stations and main highways in Georgia with 5G networks over the next 7 years. Magticom must build the 5G network in accordance with the technical norms of the European Union, which will ensure the quality and security of the network. 

The current auction no longer includes the obligation of allowing access to mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). However, both combined lots that included the obligation of allowing access to MVNOs came with a 20% discount on the initial fee. Magticom purchased the combined lot N1 without the mandatory access.   

Cellfie Mobile was the only operator who took part in last year’s 5G auction and obtained the license to implement 5G technology. The company has already implemented 5G in Zugdidi, Bakuriani, Gudauri, Batumi, Kobuleti, Shekvetili, Gonio and Kvariati, and actively continues to expand coverage. As it is vitally important for the Commission to facilitate the implementation of new technologies, it took the request of operators into account and allowed them to participate in the second auction in order to implement 5G technology and provide customers with high-quality services. 

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.