4G: Unrest continues over spectrum auction

According to reports there is continued unrest over the auction of 4G spectrum amongst network providers, who are now putting their views forward as part of the consultation.

The 4G spectrum auction that is set to take place in the UK next year has already had its fair share of controversy and delays. However, according to recent reports the unrest with regards to the spectrum continues amongst the various network providers, who are now putting their own views forward in relation to the spectrum allocation as part of the consultation.

Everything Everywhere has expressed its concerns over the spectrum being disproportionately allocated to rival providers Vodafone and O2 resulting in these network operators getting far more than Everything Everywhere, Three, and other operators. Kip Meek, the Director of Public Affairs at Vodafone, said: “The way the auction rules could play out now, it is perfectly possible Vodafone and O2 will have five times as much sub-1Ghz spectrum as either Three, Everything Everywhere, or anyone else”, he said. “That five to one ratio isn’t an effective redistribution.”

However, Vodafone has said that despite its size the auction was still swaying towards benefitting Everything Everywhere. The company said: “While we understand Ofcom’s desire to ensure that the UK remains one of the most competitive mobile phone markets in the world, to do that by giving the largest player in that market control over even more of the nation’s airwaves seems completely nonsensical. The European Commission has already requested that Everything Everywhere sell some of its spectrum holdings to prevent a distortion of competition, so it would be odd if the effect of the rules that Ofcom lays down for the forthcoming auction was to guarantee it even more.”

Source – Telegraph