NextGenTel acquires WiMax frequency licences in Norway

NextGenTel has acquired 47 out of 150 frequency blocks (3.4 - 3.6 GHz range) in the Norwegian WiMax Frequency Auction finalised today (pending formal notification), and the Auction covered 6 regions with 25 frequency blocks in each region.NextGenTel has acquired 8 blocks (each) in Region 1 (incl. Oslo) and Region 2 (incl. Stavanger), 5 blocks in Region 3 (incl. Bergen), 6 blocks in Region 4 (central eastern Norway), and 10 blocks (each) in Region 5 (incl. Trondheim) and Region 6 (Northern Norway).Approx. 50 % of the acquired frequency blocks are available from today, while the remaining will be available in 2006. All frequencies are allocated to NextGenTel until 2023, there are no obligations to build and all frequency blocks are fully tradable as specified by the NPT.According to NPT, the Auction totalled 49.9 mNOK, and NextGenTel is obliged to pay 13 mNOK for its acquired frequency blocks.NextGenTel has thereby established itself with a strong national position enabling the Company to take advantage of the possibilities in the up-coming WiMax standards (e.g. 802.16a and 802.16e) expected to be fully standardised from late 2005 and onwards.WiMax is by some viewed as 'wireless DSL' with a potential to support high-speed wireless broadband applications with rather long reach (the frequency range 3.4 - 3.6 GHz is the most interesting WiMax range and doesn't require line-of-sight), mobility and roaming. As opposed to other standards, WiMax is designed for data and can in the future represent a noticeable potential treat to 3G (UMTS) and other similar standards/technologies.To NextGenTel, WiMax represents a natural complimentary future path and evolution in-line with NextGenTel's continuous focus on new disruptive technologies (e.g. xDSL and Voice-over-Broadband).NextGenTel has radio technology competence in-house, and combined with other companies with both radio based development and production in Bergen, the region is already a leading radio technology cluster in Norway
(www.nextgentel.com)