By Joey Gardiner, 4 October 1999 17:04
NEWS Cable operator, Eurobell, today publicly criticised the government over the intended auction of licences for part of the radio spectrum. In a submission to the Radiocommunication Agency, Eurobell says the government should not auction the frequencies - which can then be used for broadband fixed wireless telecoms - but should award licences to operators on a basis of track record and quality of business plan. Eurobell argues that an auction does not guarantee the best development of broadband Internet services. Under auction, a rival operator could potentially buy up frequencies and leave them unused - just to keep out competition. A spokeswoman for the DTI said today that it considered this eventuality unlikely as the highest bid would come from the party putting the highest value on the licence. They believe this would be a service provider. The DTI refused to comment on other submissions to the consultation, but added that they would be made public when the government had had time to consider them.
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