Ofcom Propose to Auction Upper 1.4GHz Band for UK 4G and 5G Mobile UPDATE

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today proposed to auction off a 25MHz (spectrum frequency) slice of the 1.4GHz band (i.e. the “upper block” of 1492 to 1517MHz) to mobile operators (EE, O2, Vodafone / Three UK), which will be able to use it for their 4G and 5G based mobile broadband services.

At present both Three UK and Vodafone are already harnessing the lower part (40MHz) of the L-Band spectrum (i.e 1452-1492MHz) to boost their mobile data connectivity (example) – mostly as a Supplemental Downlink (SDL) solution.

However, Ofcom has spent the past few years working to clear and re-purpose the additional frequency between 1492-1517MHz (here) for use by mobile operators, which sits just below part of the 1.5GHz band that is being used by Inmarsat‘s emergency communication satellite terminals (i.e. on ships at and near ports, and on aircraft at and above airports).

The catch above is that some Inmarsat receivers in the adjacent band are susceptible to blocking from mobile network transmissions at frequencies below 1518MHz, which Ofcom are seeking to address. Meanwhile, the advantage of 1.4GHz is the fact that it’s able to deliver a fairly strong level of coverage and faster data speeds, albeit only if the device being used is actually able to harness that extended frequency.

Ofcom Statement

To avoid potential disruption to Inmarsat satellite receivers on board maritime vessels and aircraft, we are also proposing to limit the power that mobile networks can transmit around certain ports and airports for an initial period, relaxing this limit later on.

To award the 1492-1517 MHz spectrum, we plan to use a sealed-bid, single round auction format, with a ‘second price’ rule – where winning bidders pay fees based on the second highest price bid.

Ofcom have adopted an approach that would “not … protect Inmarsat land-based satellite receivers or future uses of the 1.5 GHz band from potential disruption“, while shipping companies, airlines and Inmarsat would need to ensure that the “satellite receivers most at risk from blocking” – at ports and airports – are upgraded, to avoid disruption to their operations in the UK before Ofcom relaxes the rules.

In other words, the regulator isn’t proposing to protect land terminals, but they are proposing to protect maritime and aircraft terminals. The level of protection will be reduced over a period yet to be determined, which could be anything from 5 to possibly even 20 years, depending upon their findings.

The consultation on all this is now open to feedback until 25th April 2025. Ofcom added that they would also need to consult separately on their “competition assessment” for this award once any spectrum trades, which are currently being considered as part of the merger between Three UK and Vodafone, have been completed. Suffice to say that it’s currently not possible to estimate when the auction itself might take place, but it seems unlikely to be in 2025.

UPDATE 7th Feb 2025 @ 1020am

We’ve clarified a few points above about the impacted bands and where the new protections would apply.