Brazil’s telecoms watchdog Agencia Nacional de Telecomunicacoes (Anatel) will hold an auction of 4G-suitable spectrum on Sept 30, hoping to raise more than BRL8 billion ($3.5 billion) through the sale, Telegeography.com reported on Aug 22.

The auction is expected to cost telecoms operators more than BRL11.86 billion, of which BRL8.26 billion the government will get from spectrum licenses. The winners will also have to pay around BRL3.60 billion to compensate TV broadcasters which are currently using the spectrum.

Interested parties must submit the necessary documentation by Sept 23, Anatel said, with all the country’s main players – Telefonica Brazil (Vivo), Telecom Italia-backed TIM Brazil, America Movil’s Claro (Brazil) unit and locally owned Oi SA – all expected to bid.