U.K. to Hold 4G Spectrum Auction Sooner than Expected

Ofcom, the U.K., communications regulator, seems to have persuaded TV broadcasters, Digital UK and the transmission company Arqiva to release 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz spectrum for auction sooner than had originally been expected.

This agreements mean that the 4G auction process is on track to begin at the end of 2012, potentially enabling the licensing process for 4G services across the United Kingdom to begin during the first half of 2013, Ofcom says.

In August 2012 Ofcom gave approval to an application by Everything Everywhere (now EE) to use some of its existing spectrum to offer a 4G service. This is expected to launch this year.

Ofcom plans to start the auction process to release spectrum at the end of the year, with bidding starting early in 2013.