Scancom Limited (MTN) has emerged as the winner in the auction process for one frequency spectrum lot in the 800 MHz Band for mobile services.
[contextly_sidebar id=”exQyeNTyPV8LajXpIW36aOPE0jaD7XnF”]The auction process which begun in May this year was finalized today.
A statement from the National Communications Authority (NCA) on the matter said Scancom has been provisionally awarded one lot of 2 x 10 MHz in the 800 MHz Band, pending their fulfillment of other requirements.
Scancom together with three other companies Surfline, Goldkey and Migson communications submitted applications for the spectrum.
Citi Business News has gathered none of the three companies – Surfline, Goldkey and Migson communications which are all local companies, were able to cough up the floor price for the spectra which was 67.5million dollars.
Prior to the auction the ICT Chamber had called for the National Communications Authority to only allow Ghanaian companies to auction for the license.
The Chamber had argued that the move, if carried out by the industry regulator, would cause members of the chamber to lose more than the US$200 million they had so far invested in their businesses, out of which nothing had yet been recouped as return on investment (ROI).
Communications Minister, Dr. Omane Boamah, responding to the ICT Chamber’s demands said though ‘government will support Ghanaian companies, it will not go to the extent of cheating Ghanaians’.
He added that “the ICT Chamber must know that cronyism has no place in President Mahama’s administration’.
According to him, ‘the NCA has given all parties interested in the auction to bid, advising the chamber to participate in the bidding process which demands the auctioneers have a minimum of 35% local content’.
Meanwhile another lot of 2 x 10 MHz in the 800 MHz Band is however still available and the NCA is expected to in due course take a decision on that unallocated block.
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By: Vivian Kai Lokko/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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