Netherlands raises $5 billion in frequency auction
(AP)—The Dutch government says it has raised €3.8 billion ($5 billion) in an auction of its 4G high speed mobile Internet frequencies. Winning bids were submitted by Royal KPN NV, Vodafone PLC, Deutsche Telekom AG and Sweden's Tele2 AB.
The money is a boon for the Cabinet, which is struggling to keep the government's deficit under 3 percent of gross domestic product in 2013, to conform to European Union budget rules.
The frequencies were sold through 2030, Economic Affairs Minister Henk Kamp said Friday.
KPN paid around €1.3 billion in Friday's auction, and said it would have to cut dividends as a result. KPN was one of several telecoms companies that overpaid for 3G frequencies in 2000. It avoided bankruptcy later only by issuing new shares with state support.
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