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Ofcom reveals bidders for 4G

Ofcom has announced seven bidders for 4G mobile spectrum, due to be auctioned in January 2013.

Vodafone and o2’s Spanish owners, Telefonica, were amongst the bidders, as well as Hong Kong telecoms firms PCCW and Hutchison Whampoa, which operates 3 mobile in the UK.

Everywhere Everything, the only company to already offer 4G spectrum, is also amongst the bidders, along with BT and MLL Telecom.

Users of 4G will benefit from a 75% increase in the amount of airwaves available to mobile phones.

An Ofcom competition assessment carried out in July concluded that consumers would benefit most from better services and lower prices if four credible networks carried the service, and as a result the auction of 4G was designed to achieve this outcome.

Ed Richards, Ofcom Chief Executive, said: “The 4G auction will be a competitive process that will dictate the shape of the UK mobile phone market for the next decade and beyond.

“New 4G services will stimulate investment, growth and innovation in the UK and deliver significant benefits to consumers in terms of better, faster and more reliable mobile broadband connections.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .