Spectrum auction to complete by 2014

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Telecoms regulator Ofcom has confirmed plans for the auction of the 2.6Ghz to provide a network for LTE or 4G, but it will take over three years until operators can take full advantage of it.

During at speech at the Financial Times’ telecoms conference this week, Ed Richards, chief executive of Ofcom, outlined the plans, starting with a consultation which will kick off by the end of February next year.

This is set to come to an end in May, with details and draft regulations due to be released in the early autumn of 2011.

Mobile operators who wish to get their hands of the hotly desired spectrum can start entering their applications from the first quarter of 2012 and it will be divided out during Q2 the same year.

However, the spectrum itself will not be freed up until the beginning of 2013 after the digital switchover has completed, so in reality, the winners cannot use the spectrum until at least the end of 2013 and more likely into 2014.

Richards claimed this was an “ambitious timetable” but added: “It is clear that we are talking about a very significant step forward – not only the most significant release since the 3G auction in 2001 but spectrum which is the raw material that will fuel an explosion in next generation mobile broadband.”

He also warned any litigation against the Government or regulator would make this timetable even harder to achieve – a warning perhaps to any sore losers in the contest.

Although good news that a timetable has been confirmed, it will still be a long time until the UK can feel the benefits of next generation mobile broadband.

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