3g Mobile Telecommunications Licenses in Europe: A Critical Review

28 Pages Posted: 20 Jul 2006

Date Written: November 2006

Abstract

This paper makes a critical review of the introduction of first 3G mobile services and the evolution of market structure. There is evidence in support of to the "overbidding" hypothesis, i.e. license fees determined in auctions were higher than ultimately compatible with the originally envisaged market structure base on the n+1 rule. 3G markets therefore are more concentrated than 2G markets. The correct design of market structure is crucial for accelerating the speed of introduction of 3G services: the speed increases with the number of licenses granted, but decreases with the number of idle licenses. Auctions are not superior to other methods with respect to speed of innovation.

Keywords: Mobile telecommunications, 3G, Europe, auctions, beauty contest, market structure, license fees

JEL Classification: L1, L5, L96

Suggested Citation

Gruber, Harald, 3g Mobile Telecommunications Licenses in Europe: A Critical Review (November 2006). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=918003 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.918003

Harald Gruber (Contact Author)

European Investment Bank ( email )

Projects Directorate 100 Boulevard Adenauer
L-2950
Luxembourg
+352 43798606 (Phone)
+352 43798831 (Fax)

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