UK Regulator Ofcom Sells Airwave Spectrums for GBP1.36 Billion to Mobile Networks

By Joe Hoppe

The U.K.'s media regulator Ofcom said Wednesday that the U.K.'s top four mobile networks have paid 1.36 billion pounds ($1.89 billion) in an auction to secure more airwaves.

The regulator said the principal stage for the spectrum auction has ended, and the purchased airwaves will both boost current mobile services and support new 5G networks in the U.K.

Ofcom said BT Group PLC's EE Ltd., Hutchison 3G UK Ltd., Telefonica UK Ltd. and Vodafone Ltd. took part in the auction, in which they bid for airwaves across 34 "lots" to secure a total of 200 megahertz of spectrum.

The regulator said Hutchison 3G UK and Telefonica UK won bands in the 2x10 MHz of the paired frequency spectrum for GBP280 million each, and Telefonica also secured 40 MHz in the 3.6-3.8 GHz band for a further GBP168 million.

Vodafone UK won a bid for 40 MHz in 3.6-3.8 GHz band for GBP176.4 million. EE won 2x10 MHz in the 700 MHz band for GBP280 million, 20 MHz in the 700 MHz band for GBP4 million and 40 MHz in the 3.6-3.8 GHz band for GBP168 million.

The spectrum auction now moves to the second stage, at the end of which commercial terms will be finalized.

Write to Joe Hoppe at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 17, 2021 03:58 ET (07:58 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2021 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.