UK regulator Ofcom announced that the 5G spectrum auction will start on Friday 12 March. Mobile operators will bid for a total of 200 MHz of spectrum, including 80 MHz in the 700 MHz band, and 120 MHz in the 3.6-3.8 GHz band.
Bidding will take place into two stages. In the principal stage, companies will bid for airwaves in 'lots' to determine how much each bidder wins in each band. Bidding in this stage will continue as long as there is excess demand for the available spectrum, with Ofcom announcing the results as soon as possible after conclusion.
This will be followed by a round of bidding in the assignment stage, to determine the specific frequencies allocated to winning bidders. Winners of 3.6-3.8 GHz spectrum will also be able to negotiate specific frequencies between themselves. Ofcom will publish the final results of the auction after both stages have been completed.
