Ofcom set to auction off spectrum licences for new-media applications

by Jennifer Whitehead, Brand Republic 03-Apr-06

LONDON - Ofcom is to auction off licences that could be used to run mobile TV, broadband wireless access or satellite digital radio.

The regulator is holding a consultation on how the auction for licences for the frequencies at 1452 to 1492 MHz can be organised.

It has proposed that the spectrum be split between 1452 and 1479.5, a block of 27.5 MHz, and 1479.5 to 1492 MHz, a block of 12.5 MHz.

The first block could then be split in to 16 lots of 1.7 MHz; five lots of 5.1 MHz and one lot of 1.7 MHz; or divided in to varied sized lots. It could also be offered as one block.

Ofcom is proposing that the upper block of 12.5 MHz be awarded as a single spectrum.

It has also suggested that the licences be sold on a technology- and application-neutral basis, and that they be tradeable, with an initial period of 15 years.

The deadline for responses to the Ofcom consultation is June 9 2006. A report should be published later this year, ahead of an auction that could be held in the first quarter of 2007.

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