The U.K.’s telecom regulator, Ofcom, announced the results from its recent US$1.9 billion 5G friendly radio spectrum auction, with proceeds benefiting the HM Treasury. ISPreview reported Ofcom sold 890 MHz of spectrum frequency in the 700 MHz band and 120 MHz of spectrum in the 3.6-3.8 GHz bands.
The bidders awarded the spectrum include EE (BT), Vodafone, Three U.K., and O2. Purchases were capped at 37 percent on the overall amount of spectrum any mobile entity held at the close of the auction. According to ISPreview, the spectrum sold should increase mobile services in the U.K. by 18 percent and result in better network performance.
Ofcom’s objective with the auction was to reduce spectrum fragmentation, enabling operators to create larger blocks of contiguous spectrum to aid their 5G plans. The awarded spectrum is attached to a 20-year license term, through 2041, reported ISPreview.
“Now the auction is complete, these companies can use these airwaves to rapidly rollout better mobile services to people across the U.K.,” said Philip Marnick, Group Director, Spectrum at Ofcom. “This additional spectrum will also support the ongoing launch of new 5G connections for people and businesses. Importantly, the bidders also have the flexibility to make trades, so they can optimize the use of the spectrum they have won in the auction with their existing airwaves.”
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