Ofcom Delays UK's 4G Spectrum Launch
Ofcom has confirmed a delay in the auctioning off of spectrum for the UK's 4G network.
Earlier this year, Ofcom announced plans to auction off the nation's 4G spectrum in the first quarter of 2012. However, threats of legal action from multiple carriers has meant a delay in proceedings that could see the auction pushed to the middle of 2012. The Guardian reports that threats of legal action from the likes of O2 means Ofcom won't be able to publish the terms of the auction until November. The delay will mean Ofcom will likely miss its Q12012 deadline for the auction. That said, the company is still hoping to have the auction in the first half of 2012.
"We are still aiming for the first half of next year. However, we have always maintained it is an ambitious timescale," a spokesperson told the Guardian.
The 4G auction will be the largest ever single auction of additional spectrum for mobile services in the UK, equivalent to three quarters of the mobile spectrum in use today and 80 percent more than the 3G auction, which took place in 2000. Covering two separate spectrum bands – 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz, Ofcom says the lower frequency band is part of the digital dividend, which is being freed-up as the UK switches from analogue to digital TV, and is ideal for widespread coverage. The higher-frequency 2.6GHz band is better suited to delivering higher speeds. Combined, these two bands add up to 250MHz of additional mobile spectrum.
Ofcom has plans in place to ensure no network is left behind, but several networks have taken issue with these regulations, which include a cap on the amount of new airspace companies could win at the auction in an effort to promote fair competition. O2 in June claimed that the auction was illegal under EU law because it constituted state aid, and, according to the Guardian, 3UK is losing out because it has less spectrum than rivals O2 and Vodafone. The story goes that in January, Ofcom gave Vodafone and O2 permission to reallocate spare spectrum from simply making phone calls to conducting activities requiring data. However, not having any spare spectrum to reallocate, 3UK is expected to run out of capacity for data traffic before its rivals.
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Well it's better late,than never seen at all. At least they have more time to make sure that there is less hipcups when it is ready to go,which in the end will make it a better network.
Yeah I can't wait for 4G to hit and have to restrict my usage due to ridiculously low monthly caps.
Well this always happens when a new network appears. You just have to wait until competition beats down the prices.
The govt shouldn't auction off the spectrum it should lease it, that way the people retain more control and can bust up any companies that try to act unfairly
If they can get it so that it doesn't go from 100k down to 3k every few minutes, that would be great.
Your topic some deep!
I don't know!!!!!