UK communications regulator Ofcom has approved an application by Everything Everywhere to use its existing 1800MHz spectrum to deliver 4G services. Ofcom does not believe that allowing the mobile network group to use its spectrum in this way would distort competition. On the contrary, Ofcom believes that it will bring material benefits to consumers, including faster mobile broadband speeds and – depending on how Everything Everywhere uses the spectrum – potentially wider mobile broadband coverage in rural areas.
Interested parties have four weeks to submit their views on the proposals, which could make 4G mobile services available in the UK as early as 2012. Commenting on the move, Ovum analyst Matthew Howett said that the proposals were both consistent with the EC’s liberalisation process and follows a request to Ofcom during the recent additional consultation on the award of the 800MHz and 2.6GHz bands. He believes that this will allow Everything Everywhere to launch 4G services up to 15 months earlier than rivals.
He expects 3 UK to be most critical of the proposal in view on their ongoing dispute with Ofcom over unequal sub 1 GHz spectrum holdings. He added that if the plan to auction the spectrum goes ahead in Q4 2012, then the UK could see widespread availability of LTE by end-2013.
