Ofcom amends auction plans

United Kingdom telecoms watchdog Ofcom has revised its plans for the country’s planned LTE spectrum auction, TeleGeography CommsUpdate reported.

The new proposals include measures to ensure LTE is available to 98 percent of the population, as well as removing a system of spectrum caps and floors that Vodafone and O2 claimed would favor Everything Everywhere, the largest operator by subscribers, and Hutchison 3G, the smallest.

Later this year the regulator is expected to redistribute spectrum in the 800MHz band freed up by the shutting down of analogue television, as well as frequencies in the 2.6GHz band.

Relevant parties have 10 weeks to comment on the revised proposals.

Ofcom will make a final decision in the summer on the terms and conditions of the auction, which is expected to commence during the fourth quarter.