The Netherlands is the latest European country to prep auctions of 2.6 GHz spectrum, seen as necessary for future launch of LTE networks. Telecompaper reports that the Dutch auction will start on 20 April and has nine bidders. Licenses are expected to be allocated by early June. “Of the 190 MHz made available, 135MHz will go to newcomers,” notes Telecompaper. “The existing mobile operators KPN and T-Mobile Netherlands will be subject to a cap of 20 MHz and Vodafone Netherlands to 20 MHz. This takes account of their existing holdings in the 900, 1800 and 2100 MHz bands…Licences for paired use will be offered in blocks of 2×5 MHz, while unpaired licences are offered in blocks of 5 MHz. Regardless of demand, at least 25 blocks, of which 13 for paired use and 12 for unpaired use, will be available.”

In January the GSMA, citing research, claimed that “the 2.6 GHz spectrum, which has been identified globally by the ITU as the ‘3G extension band’, will be vital in satisfying the demand for greater capacity for Mobile Broadband and launching next-generation networks such as LTE, which will start to be deployed commercially around the world this year.” It added that recent licensing of this band in Hong Kong, Norway, Finland and Sweden highlighted that there is more demand for paired (FDD) than unpaired spectrum (TDD), and that governments in most Western European countries as well as in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and South Africa are planning to award 2.6 GHz frequencies within the next two years. This week alone Mobile Business Briefing has reported on developments in Belgium and Germany. Meanwhile Light Reading Mobile reports that the UK auction for 2.6GHz spectrum is likely to start in the first half of 2011.