4G and 5G spectrum auction winners announced

4G and 5G spectrum auction winners announced

The results of spectrum auctions being run by Ofcom were today announced. This principal stage of the auction will see the release of airwaves in two frequency bands – 2.3 GHz, will help advance today’s mobile phone use in 4G services and 3.4 GHz, a band that will enable the running of future 5G services.

Five companies took part in the auction of 34 ‘lots’ of spectrum being auctioned off over the two bands. One company, Airspan Spectrum Holdings Limited, did not win any spectrum in either band.

  • EE Ltd spent £302, 592, 000 on 40 MHz of 3.4 GHz
  • Hutchinson 3G UK Ltd spent £151, 296, 000 on 20 MHz of 3.4GHz.
  • Telefónica UK Ltd spent £317, 720, 000 on 40 MHz of 3.4 GHz. It also won all 40MHz of 2.3 GHz spectrum with a price tag of £205, 896, 000.
  • Vodafone Ltd spent £378, 240, 000 on 50MHz of 3.4GHz.

Monies raised totalled £1,355,744,000 which will all go direct to HM Treasury.

The next and final bidding stage in the process is the assignment, whereby companies will bid on where their spectrum will be located within the frequency bands. Once the assignment has taken places, operators will be licensed to begin using their spectrum thereafter.