Award of available spectrum: 2500-2690 MHz, 2010-2025 MHz and 2290-2300 MHz | Ofcom

Award of available spectrum: 2500-2690 MHz, 2010-2025 MHz and 2290-2300 MHz | Ofcom

Ofcom is holding a consultation on various frequency bands. The consultation closes in March 2007.

These are "prime" bands as there's a lot of spectrum available and they sit in the WiMAX frequency range and would suite 802.16e (i.e. Mobile WiMAX). BT have already expressed interest.

Unfortunately these bands are designated for 3G use and the 3G operators are likely to wish to utilise the spectrum since they paid £21bn for their original allocations.

Ofcom would like to offer them on a technology neutral basis, but there are EU harmonisation issues (they are harmonised bands allocated for 3G use).

If they can be moved away from purely 3G use, competition will be fierce.