Bidding War Looms As Ofcom Releases New Radio Spectrum

A bidding war could be on the horizon with the announcement today that Ofcom will auction licences for new radio frequencies that could be used for a range of new broadband, wireless communications and broadcast services.

The regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries will release the radio spectrum in the latter half of next year. The technology could potentially be used for broadcasting video links and wireless cameras in some of the bands.

The new services could be developed in time for the London 2012 Olympic Games. New wireless services require access to additional radio spectrum, a finite national resource upon which all wireless communications depend.

This auction is in the context of a substantial programme of spectrum allocation and release over the next few years (see Ofcom Announces New Spectrum Plans).

Ofcom proposes to offer 12 licences and proposes that all of the licences be awarded in simultaneous multiple round auctions, and should be tradable.

The deadline for responses to the consultation is 7 September 2006.

Ofcom: 020 7981 3040 www.ofcom.org.uk