Ofcom Approves 4G Spectrum Trading Between UK Mobile Operators

Ofcom has confirmed that Mobile Network Operators (MNO) in the UK will soon be able to boost their Mobile Broadband network capacity, speeds, coverage and reliability by trading radio spectrum in the recently auctioned 4G (LTE) frequency bands of 800MHz and 2.6GHz.

The move, which was announced on Tuesday, is expected to come into force on 5th April 2013 and means that mobile providers with a greater need for spectrum in a specific band (e.g. Three UK) can now make offers to buy spectrum from those who need it less.

Ofcom has already established the framework for spectrum trading (here), which began in 2011 when the telecoms regulator first allowed trading of the 900MHz, 1800MHz and 2100MHz bands (e.g. Three UK is using this method to pick-up some of EE’s 1800MHz spectrum in September 2013) and thus the new change “should require little additional cost“.

The regulator believes that this will allow mobile operators to “respond more efficiently to demand“.

Ofcoms Statement on 4G Spectrum Trading (PDF)
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/../statement.pdf