Posted: 01st Mar, 2003 By: MarkJ
It's only just started and already the governments auction of 3.4Ghz broadband wireless licenses is threatened because of a boycott by several key operators:
The Department for Trade and Industry is selling 15 regional licences, with the aim of increasing broadband access in areas not covered by fixed-line connections.
But the auction is in danger of collapsing, with many operators including BT and NTL claiming they will not be bidding.
Last week Pierre Danon, chief executive at BT Retail, told vnunet.com's sister title Computing that the government's policy was "stupid" and that BT would "certainly not be bidding".The
VNUNet item reports that the auctions are set to continue for up to two weeks, with licences being granted in June.