Globacom, Bitflux are approved bidders for 2.3GHz spectrum

The Nigerian Communications Commission has announced two qualified bidders for the auction of 2.3GHz spectrum in spite of plans by the House of Representatives to review the pre-qualification criteria.
In a public notice made available on NCC’s website on Saturday, the commission announced Globacom Limited and Bitflux Communications Limited as the approved bidders for the 2.3GHz frequency spectrum auction.
The regulatory body said that the two companies had complied with the pre-qualification criteria set out in the Information Memorandum for the 2.3GHz Spectrum Auction.
The NCC said: “The NCC, on behalf of the Federal Government, hereby announces Bitflux Communications Limited and Globacom Limited as the approved bidders for the auction of one Frequency Spectrum License in the 2.3GHz band.
“This is having complied with the pre-qualification criteria set out by the commission in the Information Memorandum for the 2.3GHz Spectrum Auction.”
According to the commission, this is in line with the terms of Information Memorandum published on 2.3GHz Spectrum Auction that the auction will take place on February 19 and 20 in Abuja.
The regulatory body said that stakeholders in the telecommunications industry were invited to witness the auction.
The pre-qualification criteria did not make it mandatory for applicants to have any telecommunications operational licence in Nigeria.
However, applicants must be companies registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and must transfer an Intention-to-Bid Deposit of $2.3 million into the designated bank account.
The deposit would bind the applicant to take up a licence, should it be a successful bidder, at the reserve price or any higher bid value submitted during the process.
Already licensed operators participating in the process must fulfill all obligations to the commission, including payments of the Annual Operational Levy, Spectrum and National Numbering Plan fees.