Member Article

£1.3bn 4G auction timeline set out

Ofcom has confirmed details of the timetable for the 4G mobile spectrum auction, the largest sale of mobile airwaves in the UK.

The auction will have a £1.3bn reserve price, and Ofcom has said companies can begin in January.

In May/June providers will then be able to launch the new 4G services, delivering faster internet speeds to mobiles, closer to those experienced on home broadband.

Ed Richards, Ofcom Chief Executive, said: “Today marks an important shift from preparation to the delivery of the auction, which will see widespread 4G mobile services from a range of providers.

“The entire industry is now focused on the auction itself, with a shared goal of delivering new and improved mobile services for consumers.”

The bidding process will begin on December 11, when interested parties can submit applications with an initial deposit. In 2000, the sale of the 3G network raised £22.5bn and was described at the time as the biggest auction ever.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .