Posted: 06th Jun, 2003 By: MarkJ
The 3.4GHz broadband wireless auction has officially started today. Hong Kong Telco Pacific Century CyberWorks (PCCW) has, as expected, placed a bid with each of the 15 licences:
A total of 15 licences are on the table. Seven cover metropolitan areas and seven cover rural areas, with a further licence covering all of Northern Ireland. Reserve prices are £300,000 for three of the metropolitan licences, and £100,000 for the other 12. Twelve companies are taking part in the auction.
Given that the UK's major telecoms firms have all declined to join in, PCCW appears to have a clear run at winning control of a key part of the UK's radio spectrum -- allowing it to operate wireless broadband services anywhere in the country.Sadly the strong start hasn't helped to allay fears that rural broadband could be sidelined in favour of more profit from urban areas. More @
ZDNet.