Press Releases

ONE: Phase 1 of the UMTS auction has been a success for operators and austrian as an investment place

- Licence fees permit investments to secure the future
- Focus on customer benefits will be the critical success factor for the Third Generation

ONE Managing Director Jørgen Bang-Jensen: „Sensibility has prevailed. The realistic behaviour of bidders and the regulatory authority has created a secure basis for the introduction of UMTS.“ The launch date depends primarily on the availability of mobile phones and the necessary infrastructure. Bang-Jensen: „The critical success factor for the Third Generation will solely be the benefit derived from applications by customers.“
Bang-Jensen considers the result an important step for Austria as a place of economic and technological investment. Compared to other European countries, the Austrian auction result managed to remain within acceptable parameters. „As operator we can now seriously embark on network rollout and the development of top service despite the high investment required.“

Phase 1 of UMTS generated ATS 9.691 billion for the regulator

All six bidders acquired two licences each by auction amounting to a total of ATS 9.691 billion. Bidders spared no expense with regard to licences:

Mobilkom
1.660 billion

Max.mobil
1.643 billion

ONE
1.652 billion

Mannesmann
1.557 billion

Hutchison
1.563 billion

Telefonica
1.616 billion

ONE starts into the Third Generation with partner selection

ONE will immediately embark on selecting partners for the UMTS network rollout. However, the date for network launch cannot be taken at face value, says Bang-Jensen: „The launch date depends on the availability of mobile phones and the necessary infrastructure, nonetheless, the introduction of UMTS is scheduled for mid-2002.“ ONE will, however, clearly stick to its guiding principle to date, i.e. to launch only provided that the technology really works and customer benefit is guaranteed.