New Zealand announced the reserve price for a 5G spectrum auction, as it prepares to release the short-term management rights of airwaves in the 3.5GHz band.

In a statement, Radio Spectrum Management (RSM), a business unit of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment responsible for allocating and licensing spectrum, said the reserve price will be set at NZD250,000 ($166,147) per 10MHz lot, with a total of 16 lots available. There is a minimum bid of two lots per registered bidder, and interested parties are required to register and pay a deposit of NZD500,000.

In December 2019, New Zealand’s government agreed to free up additional 5G spectrum, heeding operators’ calls for the early release of 160MHz in the 3.5GHz band.

Spectrum rights of 3.5GHz airwaves will be allocated for a term beginning in mid-2020 until 31 October 2022. The long-term rights will start in November 2022 following another auction.

A simplified combinatorial clock auction process will be used comprising up to three phases: clock; supplementary; and placement.

RSM set an initial acquisition limit at four lots (40MHz) per registered bidder, but noted this may be raised in the supplementary phase if lots go unsold in the clock phase.

Successful bidders will be required to return existing management rights they hold elsewhere in the 3.5GHz band. A discount from the purchase price will be applied if spectrum is returned, based on the price per MHz of the winning bid.