UK regulator Ofcom has launched a four-week consultation on proposals to allow local mobile operator Everything Everywhere to use its 3G spectrum for 4G services.
“Ofcom has considered whether allowing Everything Everywhere to use this spectrum in…
UK regulator Ofcom has launched a four-week consultation on proposals to allow local mobile operator Everything Everywhere to use its 3G spectrum for 4G services.
“Ofcom has considered whether allowing Everything Everywhere to use this spectrum in this way would distort competition, and provisionally concluded that it would not,” said the regulator.
According to Everything Everywhere, which is a joint venture between France’s Orange and Germany’s T-Mobile, it could begin rolling out a 4G network before the end of the year if it receives approval to repurpose its 1800 MHz spectrum.
A spokesperson for the operator said: “It’s very important that the UK does not get left behind in the building of a new infrastructure for the digital economy. We welcome today’s notice of 1800 MHz licence variation from Ofcom, as it suggests Ofcom’s willingness to encourage the early deployment of 4G LTE.”
Last year, Ofcom allowed operators in the UK to use their 2G frequencies for 3G purposes, and Everything Everywhere claims its request for further liberalisation is in line with European Commission guidelines aimed at fully utilising superfast technology.
This is in spite of Everything Everywhere’s rivals – Vodafone, O2 and Three – currently not having enough 1800 MHz spectrum to run a viable 4G network on this band.
Ofcom plans to release more frequencies for 4G services in an auction being planned for Q4 2012.
Meanwhile, Everything Everywhere is looking to mandate a bank to oversee the sale of the 2G spectrum it is required to divest this year. The company needs to divest 25% of its 2G frequencies in 2012 to satisfy European Commission conditions that are tied to its approval for the creation of the JV.
A spokesperson for Vodafone said it “it comes as a surprise that the regulator is now considering giving the largest player in the market permission to use its existing spectrum for 4G services before the rules for the auction have even been concluded or it has divested spectrum as required by the European Commission.
“We share the regulator’s desire to see the next generation of mobile internet services rolled out quickly and placed within the reach of many more people in rural areas. But we seriously doubt that consumers’ best interests will be served by giving one company a significant head start before any of its competitors have a clear path to 4G. We will need to review Ofcom’s reasons for pressing ahead with liberalisation of Everything Everywhere’s existing spectrum before making our submission as part of the current consultation.”
