A wide range of firms – including incumbent operators and potential new entrants – have expressed an interest in participating in Mexico’s imminent 3G spectrum auctions, according to the local regulator. According to a Dow Jones Newswires report, Cofetel said late last week that 44 companies had purchased bidding rules for the auction of spectrum in the 1850MHz-1990MHz frequency band, while 49 companies bought rules for the auction in 1710MHz -2170MHz. Firms that purchased rules for both auctions included existing mobile players America Movil, Telefonica, Grupo Iusacell and NII Holdings; fixed-line operators Axtel and Maxcom Comunicaciones; media conglomerate Grupo Televisa; the country’s No.2 broadcaster TV Azteca; and cable TV operator Megacable Holding. The bidding rules for both auctions were available for purchase last week at a cost of MXN20,000 (US$1,571).

Cofetel will auction nine blocks of spectrum in the 1850MHz-1990MHz band in eight of the country’s nine mobile operating regions, including the capital Mexico City, and seven blocks of spectrum between 1710MHz and 2170MHz in all nine operating regions, which could give auction winners a nationwide presence. The regulator said last week that it will announce the winners within 30 days after qualified investors submit bids on 25 May. It also hinted last week that it may also quickly follow the 3G auctions with further auctions in 700MHz, the band suitable for so-called ‘next-generation’ technologies such as LTE. It is hoped that the new spectrum will provide competition for America Movil’s Telcel, which has over a 72 percent share of Mexico’s mobile market and is the only operator in the country to have rolled out 3G services to date.