Regulator delays UK 4G spectrum auction

UK PLANS to auction off radio spectrum for 4G mobile services have been delayed by telecoms watchdog Ofcom.

The auctions, which were due to be held in early 2012 after a consultation, will now take place at the end of 2012. Ofcom said the arguments in the responses to its consultation had persuaded it to delay the process.

It said in a statement, "We received a number of substantial and strongly argued responses to this consultation."

Ofcom added that, although a further round of consultation is needed, the delay might not affect when 4G services are launched, as the spectrum needed will not be available until 2013.

The move will please O2 and Vodafone, who already have decent spectrum to reorganise for 4G services. However, Three has already said it could run out of space on its 3G network in urban areas unless the auction happens quickly.

The UK is already behind the rest of Europe and the US, which already have 4G, also known as LTE, available in many regions.

Last month, we reported that the auction would no longer kick off in the first quarter of 2012 as planned. However, Ofcom denied this was a delay, saying that it had just widened the time frame in which the auction would occur to the first half of 2012.

The government has promised universal broadband access by the next election, expected in April 2015, and mobile broadband will have to be part of that plan. µ