In a reversal of the current ‘beauty parade’ licensing plan, Italy has confirmed it will now auction off to the highest bidder its six remaining digital terrestrial frequencies – as first reported here on December 12th. Italy’s technocrat Prime Minister Mario Monti has decided to support an opposition parliamentary move to hold an auction.

The decision, which needs a governmental decree to get onto the statute books, saw former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi declare that no one should bid for the new licenses, which had been expected to be automatically awarded to public broadcaster RAI and Berlusconi’s own Mediaset broadcasting operation.

Telecom Italia CEO Franco Bernabe is also taking a ‘no bid’ stance. Telecom Italia controls the La7 channel.

Other posts by :

1. Safran Space links laser direct to satellite
2. SpaceX fearful of AST SpaceMobile’s potential?
3. Equatys wants 2,800 new satellites
4. FCC eyes freeing up Weird Space Stuff spectrum
5. SES happy with releasing 160MHz of spectrum for 5G
6. Inmarsat “likely to win appeal” over Ligado/AST action
7. FCC seeks fair play over foreign satellite access
8. Bank raises RocketLab target price
9. Paramount throws kitchen sink

Categories: Articles, Broadcast, Business, DTT/DSO, Policy, Regulation