79.—(1) This regulation applies where the pre-existing licence holder—
(a)is not a bidder; or
(b)is a bidder but did not apply for a replacement licence.
(2) A bidder’s 3.4 GHz assignment stage options shall be each of those blocks of numbered 3.4 GHz lots which satisfy the following conditions—
(a)the number of 3.4 GHz lots contained in the block is equal to the number of that bidder’s winning principal stage bids for 3.4 GHz lots;
(b)the block does not contain the 3.4 GHz lots numbered 15 to 18 and 35 to 38; and
(c)if that bidder were assigned the 3.4 GHz lots contained in the block the following conditions would be satisfied—
(i)each other bidder could be assigned 3.4 GHz lots contained in a block that, in respect of that other bidder’s winning principal stage bids for 3.4 GHz lots, satisfies the conditions in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b); and
(ii)the leftover 3.4 GHz lots are contained in at most two blocks of numbered 3.4 GHz lots, where one of those blocks is located in the lower 3.4 GHz frequency range and the other block is located in the upper 3.4 GHz frequency range.
(3) If there are no 3.4 GHz assignment stage options which satisfy the conditions set out in paragraph (2), then the bidder’s 3.4 GHz assignment stage options shall be each of those blocks or pairs of blocks of numbered 3.4 GHz lots which satisfy the following conditions—
(a)the number of 3.4 GHz lots contained in the block or pair of blocks is equal to the number of that bidder’s winning principal stage bids for 3.4 GHz lots;
(b)the block or pair of blocks does not contain the 3.4 GHz lots numbered 15 to 18 and 35 to 38;
(c)where the number of the bidder’s winning principal stage bids for 3.4 GHz lots is less than eight, the numbered 3.4 GHz lots contained in the option together form a single block of numbered 3.4 GHz lots;
(d)where the number of the bidder’s winning principal stage bids for 3.4 GHz lots is eight or more, the numbered 3.4 GHz lots contained in the option are included in at most two blocks of numbered 3.4 GHz lots, where—
(i)one of those blocks is located in the lower 3.4 GHz frequency range and the other block is located in the upper 3.4 GHz frequency range; and
(ii)the number of 3.4 GHz lots contained in each of the two separate blocks of numbered 3.4 GHz lots is at least four; and
(e)if that bidder were assigned the 3.4 GHz lots contained in the block or pair of blocks, the following conditions would be satisfied—
(i)each other bidder could be assigned 3.4 GHz lots contained in a block or pair of blocks that, in respect of that other bidder’s winning principal stage bids for 3.4 GHz lots, satisfies the conditions in sub-paragraphs (a) to (d);
(ii)the number of separate blocks of numbered 3.4 GHz lots assigned to all bidders considered together is no more than necessary to meet the conditions set out in sub-paragraphs (a) to (e)(i); and
(iii)the leftover 3.4 GHz lots are contained in at most two blocks of numbered 3.4 GHz lots, where one of those blocks is located in the lower 3.4 GHz frequency range and the other block is located in the upper 3.4 GHz frequency range.
(4) If there are no 3.4 GHz assignment stage options which satisfy the conditions set out in paragraph (2) or (3) above, then the bidder’s 3.4 GHz assignment stage options shall be each of those blocks or pairs of blocks of numbered 3.4 GHz lots which satisfy the following conditions—
(a)the number of 3.4 GHz lots contained in the block or pair of blocks is equal to the number of that bidder’s winning principal stage bids for 3.4 GHz lots;
(b)the block or pair of blocks does not contain the 3.4 GHz lots numbered 15 to 18 and 35 to 38;
(c)the numbered 3.4 GHz lots are included in at most two separate blocks of numbered 3.4 GHz lots, where one of those blocks is located in the lower 3.4 GHz frequency range and the other block is located in the upper 3.4 GHz frequency range; and
(d)if that bidder were assigned the 3.4 GHz lots contained in the block or pair of blocks, the following conditions would be satisfied—
(i)each other bidder could be assigned 3.4 GHz lots contained in a block or pair of blocks that, in respect of that other bidder’s winning principal stage bids for 3.4 GHz lots, satisfies the conditions in sub-paragraphs (a) to (c);
(ii)the number of separate blocks of numbered 3.4 GHz lots assigned to all bidders considered together is no more than necessary to meet the conditions set out in sub-paragraphs (a) to (d)(i); and
(iii)the leftover 3.4 GHz lots are contained in at most two blocks of numbered 3.4 GHz lots, where one of those blocks is located in the lower 3.4 GHz frequency range and the other block is located in the upper 3.4 GHz frequency range.