BT in the hunt for 4G spectrum

 

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By Stewart Mitchell

Posted on 20 Dec 2012 at 09:23

Ofcom has announced the companies that are bidding for 4G spectrum, with a surprising seven companies - including BT - vying for space in the airwaves for running mobile data services.

The deadline for bidding passed earlier this month, and industry expectations had been that the four big mobile companies would bid, with the possibility of an outsider looking for spectrum.

The companies announced included a subsidiary of BT, which might be looking for spectrum to provide broadband infill where it has no plans to roll out fibre.

The full list published by Ofcom reads:

• Everything Everywhere (UK)

• HKT (UK) Company Limited (a subsidiary of PCCW, a Chinese firm)

• Hutchison 3G UK

• MLL Telecom (a managed services company)

• Niche Spectrum Ventures Limited (a subsidiary of BT)

• Telefónica UK (O2)

• Vodafone

The auction for spectrum in the 800MHz and 2.6GHz ranges will be used to select which providers can run LTE services.

"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," said Ed Richards, Ofcom's chief executive.