(Telecompaper) The German government has formally announced its decision to auction off two blocks of 30 MHz frequencies in the 700 MHz band for mobile broadband. Mobile broadband using this spectrum will be phased in starting from 2017. The auction will take place at the same time as the auction for 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequencies whose permits expire at the end of 2016. The blocks will be split into lots, each lot consisting of two paired blocks of 5 MHz in the 700 MHz band. Minimum bids will be based on fees set in 2013, namely EUR 75 million per lot.