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4G will be 'essential' to meeting future UK mobile and broadband demands
Thursday 31st March 2011, by Daniel King
The upcoming 4G spectrum auction will be "essential" to meeting the demands of the UK's rapidly increasing mobile audience, according to an industry expert.
Mobile traffic demands are growing in the face of increased smartphone and mobile broadband data service use, including video streaming, email and other advanced messenger services.
A spokesperson for Ofcom highlighted the significance of these upcoming auctions, in which various operators will bid for the rights to use this spectrum.
The spokesperson noted that the auction itself will be 80 per cent larger than the 3G auctions.
They added: "Today, usage is increasing exponentially, fuelled by growth of smartphones and tablet computers.
"We expect mobile operators to start rolling-out 4G networks from the start of 2013, and to start offering 4G services to consumers perhaps later that year."
However, 4G services are not likely to be offered until a few years after this. When introduced, the new spectrum is expected to significantly improve service on existing 3G.
"4G is ideally suited for wide bandwidth data services, with speeds nearer to what you currently experience with home broadband," added the spokesperson.
The auctions are being organised so as to ensure that there is at least four national mobile service wholesalers. This is to ensure that competition remains as strong as across 3G networks, with Ofcom noting that there would be "a significant risk" to wholesale competition if there were fewer than four national competitors with "credible spectrum portfolios for providing higher quality data services".
Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards noted: "The auction is not only critical to the future of the UK mobile telecommunications market but it is also of significant importance to the wider economy."
He added that this has been reflected in the design of the auction, to ensure full benefit for the wider public as well as the UK business sector.
Categories: UK Online
