Ofcom finalises 4G/5G spectrum auction

Ofcom has released details of the final outcome of its auction to free up more spectrum for 4G mobile and future 5G services.

Following last week’s announcement of the winning bidders for various parcels of the 2.3 and 3.4 GHz spectrum, the UK regulator has now concluded the assignment stage, where the exact frequencies involved have been allocated.

The assignments are:

• EE has been allocated 3540–3580 MHz, paying an additional £1,002,000 from the assignment stage.
• Hutchison 3G UK has been allocated 3460–3480 MHz, paying an additional £13,133,000 from the assignment stage.
• Telefónica UK Limited has been allocated 2350–2390 MHz (with no additional fees to pay, as it was the only company to secure spectrum in this band), plus 3500–3540 MHz.
• Vodafone Limited has been allocated 3410–3460 MHz.
   

There were no assignment stage bids for the 3.4 GHz frequencies awarded to Telefónica UK Limited and Vodafone Limited, so there were no additional fees to pay from the assignment stage.

The total amount paid as a result of the assignment stage is £14,135,000.

Added to the amount paid during the principal stage of the auction (£1,355,744,000), this means the companies taking part in the auction have paid a total of £1,369,879,000, with all money raised from the auction being paid to the Treasury.

The winning bidders have been issued with licences to use their spectrum holdings, marking the completion of the auction.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/kstudija

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