Ofcom has set out a number of new proposals for making 4G mobile spectrum available in the UK.

 

This includes introducing new measures expected to extend coverage to at least 98% of the UK population and revised plans to promote competition.

Demand for mobile data in Western Europe is estimated to increase by more than 500% over the next five years. This demand is being fuelled by smartphones and mobile broadband data services such as video streaming, email, messenger services, online mapping and social networking.

As the UK switches from analogue to more efficient digital TV, new spectrum capacity is becoming available to meet this demand. This ‘digital dividend’ uses airwaves in the 800MHz band, which will be auctioned along with higher frequency airwaves in the 2.6GHz band at the end of 2012. This will be equivalent to three quarters of the mobile spectrum in use today.

 

Read Ofcom’s statement in full>>