Digi has failed to make the shortlist of companies bidding to obtain 5G licences in Hungary.
In statement, the Hungarian regulator NMHH says that the auction for the 700, 2100, 2600 and 3600 MHz bands was launched in August 8. Following the completion of a formal investigation, it shortlisted three of the four mobile operator bidders – Magyar Telekom, Telenor and Vodafone Hungary – but ruled out the fourth as it did not meet the eligibility criteria and was not registered by the regulator.
Although not named, the fourth bidder was Romanian-owned Digi, already one of the top providers of broadband and pay-TV services in Hungary.
Ziarul Financiar reports that Digi has criticised the decision and will challenge it “by all means at its disposal, in accordance with Hungarian and European law”.
Sergie Bulgac, Digi’s CEO, said that it was the latest in a series of adverse and controversial decisions the NMHH has adopted against companies of the Digi Group.
NMHH will sell the four 5G frequency bands in Hungary for 15 years, renewable once for five years. The results are expected in late autumn.
