UK market falling behind with 4G

The O2 chief executive Ronan Dunne has warned that the UK mobile market needs to adopt a “co-operative” approach to avoid further constraints and delays to the 4G auction.

Speaking at this morning’s Westminster eForum in London, Dunne said: “The 4G auction is about the future, and the UK needs a simple process to get on with the auctions so it doesn’t fall any further behind the market as countries like Germany already move to LTE.

“Regulators are right to step in where the market doesn’t deliver, but must balance good intentions with the risk of regulatory failure. If they tinker too much this can give rise to distorted outcomes and create legal challenges and delay.”

Dunne also said that the upcoming 4G auctions should not be used to “right the perceived wrongs” of previous spectrum auctions of 2G and 3G holdings.

The UK is not expected to see any 4G spectrum in use until 2014, with the first licences issued in the second quarter of 2012.