Turkish operator Avea emerged the second highest bidder with €380 million for the A2 package, followed by Turkcell’s bid of €372.93 million for the A3 package, said Deniz Yanik, the tender commission chairman. In addition Vodafone and Avea have pledged to pay an additional €24 million, more than the minimum amount required for bidding.
The spectrum, which will be used for Turkey’s 4G network, was divided equally between the country’s three operators. The government will gain a total of €3.96 billion after value-added tax is included.
The country’s 4G auction was postponed in May 2015, following Turkey’s president Tayyip Erdogan comments to not delay 4G further, and to proceed straight to 5G.
"It is not necessary to waste time with 4G technologies," Erdogan told reporters. "If we wait two more years, then 5G is going to come along. Otherwise when Turkey gets 4G it will just get put on the rubbish heap."
