UK operators put WiMax in peril
Ofcom delays 2.6GHz auction.
By Peter Judge | Techworld | Published: 16:00, 11 June 2008
WiMax services in the UK could be put back, as Ofcom has announced a delay to its auction of 2.6GHz spectrum, following complaints by mobile operators.
Ofcom has announced that the application date for the auction, originally expected to be in July, will not be until at least September, because of legal action by O2 and T-Mobile
The operators' complaint is that the auction would be unfair as it stands, with operators bidding blindly, because another spectrum issue has not been resolved. Ofcom is planning to "re-farm" some spectrum, around 900MHz, used by O2 and Vodafone's GSM networks, taking it back from the operators and re-selling it. The operators say they won't know how much 2.6GHz spectrum to bid for till the re-farming is resolved.
"T-Mobile continues to argue that operators need certainty on liberalisation before the 2.6GHz award in order to value this spectrum with any degree of accuracy," said T-Mobile's response to the 2.6GHz consultation earlier this year.
However, others have pointed out that WiMax operators are waiting for the 2.6GHz spectrum to offer services in the UK, and any delay to it would keep it out of their hands until the operators are ready to unleash their successor to 3G, LTE.
Ofcom says it wants to get the auction started, saying it will benefit UK citizens and consumers: "we are seeking an expedited timeframe for the legal action to be heard," it said.
