Commission clears Vodafone Mobile frequency buy

Media Release

Issued 4 November 2002-03/062

Commission clears Vodafone Mobile
to acquire radio frequency range

The Commission has cleared Vodafone Mobile NZ Limited to acquire the management rights for 20 years in the radio frequency range between 890 MHz and 899.8 MHz, together with the corresponding natural pair management rights in the 939 – 944.8 MHz range from the New Zealand Government.

On 23 July 2002, the Ministry of Economic Development, on behalf of the New Zealand Government, began the auctioning of management rights and licences, issued under the Radiocommunications Act 1989, to radio spectrum in four bands.

Vodafone Mobile is the owner of radio spectrum management rights in the 900 and 1800 MHz ranges and the 1.9 and 2.1 GHz ranges. The 900 and 1800 MHz frequencies are used to operate the current Global System for Mobile Communications service offered by Vodafone.

Chair John Belgrave said the Commission is satisfied that the proposed acquisition would not have, nor would be likely to have, the effect of substantially lessening competition in the mobile telephone market.

The Commission’s written decision on the application will be available soon on the Commission’s website, www.comcom.govt.nz/adjudication.

ENDS

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