My guess is New Zealand's exchange rate had something to do with Clear Communications' change of heart discussed below. Do the Maori have enough money to actually pay for the spectrum that has been set aside for them? I suspect that to some this may sound like a hopelessly racist question, but in the United States an overly large percentage of our remaining aboriginal population (at least those without gambling casinos) live in desperate poverty.
totaltele.com
Mobile & Satellite
BT's Clear enters New Zealand 3G auction
By Emily Bourne, Total Telecom
20 October 2000
Clear Communications made a belated appearance Friday in the New Zealand 2G and 3G spectrum auction, which has been dragging on since July with almost no competition for the three 3G licenses.
But in round 207, Clear entered for the first time with bids totaling NZ$21,149,806 (US$8.4 million) for four lots of UMTS spectrum.
At the end of the round, total bids for the 43 lots came to NZ$105,410,480 (US$41.6 million). Clear, wholly owned by U.K. incumbent BT, also placed bids for four blocks of 2G spectrum.
In a statement, the company said it had chosen to take a stronger position in the mobile market. Chief executive Peter Kaliaropoulos said the company believed the New Zealand market, with 40% penetration, had "ample room for growth." In June, the company said it would not take part in the auction, but would offer 3G services through a partner.
"We looked very closely at participating in the forthcoming 3G spectrum auction and, after an extensive business case analysis, have chosen to deliver current and 3G mobility services through means other than owning our own network," Clear marketing and online services director Ian Scherger said at the time.
Telecom New Zealand, Vodafone Mobile New Zealand and Telstra Saturn have held the 12 UMTS lots virtually unchallenged since the auction began, with a top bid of only NZ$20 million (US$7.9 million). In September, media group Independent Newspapers and Internet network company Walker Wireless placed bids, but were topped by the three mobile operators. Clear's bid knocked out Telstra Saturn.
A fourth block of UMTS spectrum has been set aside, at a 5% discount from the average price, for the country's Maori population.
Top bidders for 2G spectrum at the end of round 207 were:
Broadcast Communications, eSavoy Pacific, Telecom, Clear Communications, Vodafone, Telstra Saturn, Transpower NZ and Walker Wireless.
Bids for the 3G spectrum lots at the end of round 207 are as follows:
Lot 20: NZ$6,000,001 - Vodafone
Lot 21: NZ$3,015,338 - Vodafone
Lot 22: NZ$3,300,000 - Telecom
Lot 23: NZ$6,500,000 - Telecom
Lot 24: NZ$7,147,176 - Clear Communications
Lot 25: NZ$3,427,727 - Clear Communications
Lot 26: Special block, reserved for Maori population
Lot 33: NZ$6,000,001 - Vodafone
Lot 34: NZ$3,015,338 - Vodafone
Lot 35: NZ$3,300,000 - Telecom
Lot 36: NZ$6,500,000 - Telecom
Lot 37: NZ$7,147,176 - Clear Communications
Lot 38: NZ$3,427,727 - Clear Communications
Lot 39: Special block, reserved for Maori population
For further details of current bids and past rounds, see the auction Web site at: auction.med.govt.nz |
