UK mobile operator EE has received regulatory approval to sell 4G spectrum to smaller rival Three for an undisclosed sum.
The European Commission and local regulator Ofcom have both given their go-ahead for the deal, which allows EE to offload the 2×15…
UK mobile operator EE has received regulatory approval to sell 4G spectrum to smaller rival Three for an undisclosed sum.
The European Commission and local regulator Ofcom have both given their go-ahead for the deal, which allows EE to offload the 2×15 MHz of 1800 MHz spectrum it is required to divest this year.
EE is required to divest a quarter of its 1800MHz frequencies to satisfy EC conditions that are tied to the 2010 formation of the company, previously known as Everything Everywhere, which is a joint venture between Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom.
The operators have now filed an application to Ofcom to trade the spectrum, which the regulator is still processing.
However, EE is not required to fully complete the sale until October 2013. This means Three could have to wait until the country’s spectrum auction early next year before it is able to launch 4G services.
Morgan Stanley is managing the sale process.
EE is currently the only mobile operator in the UK with enough spectrum to offer 4G services. Its three rivals, Vodafone, Telefonica, and Three, plan to take part in Ofcom’s spectrum auction next year to pick up additional frequencies.
