Fixed Wireless ISP Connexin Drops Out of UK Spectrum Auction

Fixed wireless access ISP Connexin, which operates broadband networks in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire (England), has this morning suddenly dropped out of next week’s UK auction for the 4G friendly 2.3GHz mobile spectrum band and the 5G friendly 3.4GHz band.

The provider was announced as one of the six qualifying applicants for next Tuesday’s auction at the end of February 2018 (here) and they initially welcomed the news. Connexin’s CEO, Furqan Alamgir, said: “This is great news for Connexin. It’s an opportunity to build on our position at the forefront of next generation mobile technology. Ofcom’s green light to take part in the auction is validation that Connexin is qualified to operate at the highest level. We will be formally confirming with Ofcom in the coming days that Connexin will indeed take part.”

Unfortunately something seems to have gone wrong because this morning the regulator issued a brief statement, without explanation, to confirm that Connexin is “no longer participating in the auction.” We have shot off an email to the person in charge of Connexin’s bid in the hope of finding out what happened and will report back once we know more. It’s unusual for a bidder to drop out at the 11th hour.