Portugal telecom regulator ANACOM said Telecom Nowo, owned by Spain’s Masmovil, and Dixarobil, which belongs to Romanian group Digi, bought 5G licences in the spectrum auction.
They will join NOS, Altice and Vodafone, which also bought 5G licences, in Portugal’s retail mobile market. They account for almost 100 percent of the market.

Small telecom operator Dense Air also won a 5G licence, but will only operate in the wholesale mobile market.

Portugal and Lithuania are the only two European Union countries that have not yet embarked on a commercial rollout of 5G technology, which will allow for everything from self-driving cars to remote surgery.

ANACOM chief Joao Cadete told reporters a day after the regulator concluded a 5G spectrum auction there were still some administrative procedures to follow, but some players, who have been testing the 5G technology, were practically ready to launch their retail and corporates offers.