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Mobile broadband spectrum ready to be traded
Thursday 23rd June 2011, by Daniel King
Trading for the mobile broadband spectrum has been given the green light from telecommunications regulator Ofcom.
Mobile operators have been acquiring licences for blocks of mobile spectrum in the UK for the last two decades, and in general, those with more spectrum can handle more traffic.
The new regulations cover spectrum at 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz, and are designed to give operators greater flexibility in meeting the demands of mobile customers.
It is hoped that the distribution system will allow companies who need more spectrum to make offers for it from those that need less, helping them to respond to demand more efficiently.
With more than 80 million mobiles in the UK, and 12.8 million of these internet-ready smartphones, demand for mobile broadband has rocketed in recent months.
"By allowing operators to trade their spectrum, Ofcom believes that there will be greater opportunity to use it more efficiently," said Ofcom.
"Ultimately, it is believed that this will bring benefits to citizens and consumers in terms of improved mobile services."
Ofcom will take charge of the administration of spectrum trades, by publishing details of deals online and issuing revised licences. The regulator will consider whether competition is likely to be affected before handing over more control of the mobile broadband spectrum to any one operator.
"As part of a wider initiative to promote improvements in mobile services, the Government directed Ofcom to make mobile spectrum licences tradable in December 2010," added the regulator.
"Ofcom has now made the regulations necessary for this to happen."
Last month, O2 topped a study by Ofcom designed to find the fastest mobile broadband providers in the UK, with an average of just below 3Mbps.
According to the regulator, seven per cent of households in the UK use mobile broadband as their only means of internet access.
Categories: Wireless Broadband
