Tele2, Hrvatski Telekom get additional radio frequency spectrum

The additional spectrum from the 1805-1880/1710-1785 megahertz (MHz) band will allow the two companies to increase the capacity of their networks and raise the quality of their services, HAKOM said in a statement.

The decision was made following a public call issued in early November.

HAKOM said that Tele2 - the only one of the three mobile carriers active in Croatia that did not seek allocations from the country's digital dividend spectrum, applied for a block of 2x15 MHz while Hrvatski Telekom - 51%-owned by Deutsche Telekom, sought an additional 2x10 MHz.

The allocation of the sceptrum capacity - which is technology-neutral, ensures the Croatian government will pocket 65 million kuna ($10.6 million/8.5 million euro) in fees annually until 2024, HAKOM said.

Vipnet, a unit of Telekom Austria Group, is the third mobile carrier active in Croatia, a market of 4.3 million.

(1 euro=7.6672 Croatian kuna)