Google has no interest in UK mobile spectrum

 

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By Simon Aughton

Posted on 21 Nov 2007 at 12:09

Google claims it has no plans to bid for UK wireless spectrum should Ofcom decide to go ahead with a proposed liberalisation of 2G frequencies.

The search giant - and nascent developer of a mobile operating system - has already signalled its intention of bidding $4.6 billion in next year's US spectrum auction.

This has led to speculation that it would do the same in the UK, which was fuelled even further when news emerged that Chris Sacca, Google's head of special initiatives, is to meet officials at UK telecoms regulator Ofcom.

But Sacca says that Google has no interest in the UK spectrum. "We're not preparing a bid and we're not looking for partners," he says.

Ofcom has proposed liberalising the 900MHz part of the spectrum currently allocated to 2G mobile services, in order to provide 3G services in rural areas and inside buildings.