The National Commission for Communications Regulation (NCCR) plans on February 17 to hold a meeting on holding a tender for licenses to provide UMTS (3G) communications services, the regulator will subsequently hold an auction on February 23, 2015.

The commission told Interfax-Ukraine that on February 16 it will hold a closed-door meeting where the bidder deposits are to be approved. On February 17 it is planned to examine the offers made.

"They will be given timeout, a break until February 23. On this day the auction by voice will be held," the commission said.

The bidder deposits will be returned to the winner (winners) of the tender within 10 days after the commission receives payment for the licenses.

The three bidders for frequency bands are the main players of the Ukrainian mobile communications market – Kyivstar, MTS Ukraine and Astelit (brand life:)). All three operators have confirmed to Interfax-Ukraine that they paid bidder deposits in full and on time.