Brussels, 12 November 2013 – Today, Mobistar acquired, through the 800 MHz spectrum auction process, a license for an amount of 120 million euro. This acquisition is part of Mobistar’s strategy for an accelerated deployment of the 4G-technology in Belgium. The 800 MHz license will enable Mobistar to offer its customers an excellent indoor coverage, also in rural areas. This additional spectrum will allow Mobistar to get ready for the massive growth in mobile data services expected over the coming years and to offer a homogeneous customer experience in 4G. Mobistar acquired the lot with the most ambitious coverage obligations and confirms herewith its ambition to deploy the best 4G network in Belgium.
In the context of the auction organized this November 12th by the BIPT, Mobistar has acquired an additional licence for 120 million euros. This license is valid for 20 years and covers a frequency block of 2x10 MHz in the 800 MHz band. The technical characteristics of this spectrum enable Mobistar to provide a better indoor coverage to its customers, also in rural areas.
For all operators the national coverage obligations related to the acquisition of this spectrum are: 30% of the population after 2 years, 70% of the population after 4 years and 98% of the population after 6 years. Mobistar, who acquired the lot with the most ambitious coverage obligations, will cover 60 additional cities, mostly in the rural areas of Wallonia, with a coverage of 98% of the population within 3 years.
With the acquisition of the 800 MHz-license Mobistar continues to invest in its mobile broadband network. “The spectrum Mobistar acquired today is a major step in the realization of the best 4G network in Belgium and it will allow us to bring 4G faster towards our customers” says Jean-Marc Harion, CEO van Mobistar. The 4G technology offers speeds that are 10 times faster than 3G (download speed up to 90 Mbps and upload speed up to 46 Mbps) and a strongly reduced latency of 25 milliseconds compared to 100 milliseconds in 3G today. Mobistar’s 4G networks performances in Belgium and Luxemburg demonstrate that the customer experience on the 4G network is similar to a fixed internet connection at home.
Mobistar continues to invest in the upgrade of its 2G/3G network and the accelerated roll out of its 4G network. These investments will enable Mobistar to absorb the yearly increase of mobile internet traffic. More than ever, Mobistar is ready to offer its customers the best network. Mobistar is actively following the future evolutions concerning the 3V/m legal constraint in Brussels in order to offer 4G also to individuals and companies in the capital.