Four Prequalify for Honduras Mobile License Auction

Four companies have prequalified to bid for a mobile license in Honduras, scheduled for auction on December 19, local daily Tiempo reported.

The prequalifiers are Spain's Telefonica, Jamaican group Digicel and two European firms, one of which is British, according to Rasel Tome, president of the Honduran telecoms regulator Conatel.

Conatel is offering spectrum in the 1870-1890MHz and 1950-1970MHz bands, and refers to the license as a PCS concession.

Technically, the spectrum license represents the country's fourth mobile concession, but the third license holder - state-run fixed line incumbent Hondutel - is not expected to obtain sufficient financing to roll out mobile operations in the short term, so in practice the winner of this license is likely to become the country's third mobile operator.

The two established mobile operators in Honduras are market leader Tigo, owned by Luxembourg's Millicom International Cellular, and America Movil unit Claro.

Posted to the site on 17th October 2007