Magnificent seven enter Ofcom 4G auction
Regulator lifts lid on who has entered the 4G race.
Telecoms regulator Ofcom has revealed that seven companies had qualified to bid for the new airwaves needed to roll out superfast 4G mobile broadband across Britain.
Fixed lines provider BT, managed networks firm MLL Telecom and Hong Kong's PCCW Limited would enter the auction, Ofcom said, as well as all of the existing mobile network operators - EE, Vodafone, O2 owner Telefonica and Hutchison, which is behind Three.
Bidders will be competing for spectrum in two separate bands - 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz, it said. The lower frequency 800 MHz band was freed up when analogue terrestrial TV was switched off.
EE, a joint venture between France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom, has already launched 4G services in major British cities by reallocating its existing airwaves.
Sign up today and you will receive a free copy of our Future Focus 2025 report - the leading guidance on AI, cybersecurity and other IT challenges as per 700+ senior executives
ITPro is a global business technology website providing the latest news, analysis, and business insight for IT decision-makers. Whether it's cyber security, cloud computing, IT infrastructure, or business strategy, we aim to equip leaders with the data they need to make informed IT investments.
For regular updates delivered to your inbox and social feeds, be sure to sign up to our daily newsletter and follow on us LinkedIn and Twitter.
-
HPE and Nvidia launch first EU AI factory lab in FranceThe facility will let customers test and validate their sovereign AI factories
-
AWS CEO Matt Garman says AI agents will have 'as much impact on your business as the internet or cloud'News Garman told attendees at AWS re:Invent that AI agents represent a paradigm shift in the trajectory of AI and will finally unlock returns on investment for enterprises.
-
Ofcom net neutrality update dismisses calls for big tech contributionsNews Ofcom’s net neutrality stance has been criticized by some industry stakeholders
-
How Virgin Media O2 saved “millions” by enhancing data center efficiencyCase Study Reducing data center power consumption forms part of a broader sustainability drive at the telecoms giant
-
Medium businesses: Fuelling the UK’s economic engineWhitepaper A Connected Thinking report
-
EE rolls out 4G across Glasgow's underground networkNews The network is currently restricted to EE customers but is likely to expand in the near future
-
UK 5G spectrum auction will finally go ahead this weekNews The much awaited auction will involve companies bidding for frequency in two bands
-
The guide to workplace securitySponsored The dos, the don’ts and everything in between – effective workplace security is the responsibility of every individual in the business
-
Building connectivity: How 5G will change the way we live and workSponsored The next generation of mobile data is on the horizon and with it, the potential to revolutionise our everyday lives
-
Empowering people to build a better businessSponsored How can people and tech work in unison to create a better business?
