The consortium comprising media group Televisa and Nextel Mexico, a unit of NII Holdings, has won Mexico’s second mobile spectrum auction.

Mexican telecoms regulator Cofetel declared the consortium the winner of a nationwide licence that aims to increase competition on the local market. According to Cofetel, the consortium offered the minimum bid price of USD 14.2 million for 30 MHz spectrum in the 1710MHz to 2170MHz frequency band in each of the country’s nine mobile operating regions. The amount must be paid to the government within 45 days.

Additionally, the tender winner will have to pay MXN 18.13 billion in annual instalments over the 20-year life of the licence. Market leader Telcel, a unit of America Movil, won 21 blocks of 10 MHz in all operating regions with a bid of MXN 3.79 billion, plus MXN 12.70 billion in other fees during the life of the licences.

Telefonica’s local unit also won six 10 MHz blocks in six regions with a MXN 1.27 billion offer, plus the agreement to pay MXN 5.43 billion in other fees. Nextel said it plans to start selling service on the new network in parts of Mexico as soon as 12 months after it gets the airwaves.

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See the  Televisa and Comunicaciones Nextel de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. records in Latin Target.

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