Mystery Norwegian operator Telco Data bid the most in the country’s recent auction of 800-MHz, 900-MHz, and 1800-MHz frequencies.
The carrier stirred up a storm by beating market challenger Tele2 to the additional spectrum sold by regulator Norwegian Post and Telecommunications Authority (NPT), despite little or no details about the ownership of the new firm being released at the time of the sale.
Access Industries later claimed ownership of the telco, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Telco Data bid 705 million Norwegian Kroner (€83 million) in the sale, which netted 1.7 billion Kroner at its close on Monday. TeliaSonera bid 626 million Kroner, and Telenor 453 million.
The three winners now have ten working days to pay the fees, before receiving their new 20 year licenses.
Tele2 bosses have expressed disappointment at missing out on the new spectrum, but say the firm will seek to boost its 1800-MHz allocation when two unsold blocks become available.