BT Plans to Bid for Mobile Licences - Report
December 13, 2006 - source: BWCS
UK fixed-line giant BT is gearing up to fully re-enter the mobile market by bidding in the forthcoming radio spectrum auctions being organized by Ofcom. The operator famously moved away from wireless in 2001, when it sold off its mobile wing as mmO2. Now, according to a report in the UK daily newspaper The Independent, BT is preparing to bid for frequencies which it will be able to use for 3G and WiMax services.
The spectrum sale, which is being penciled in for the autumn 2007, is likely to be the largest ever seen in the UK, in terms of the amount of frequencies up for grabs. However, in terms of money raised for the Treasury, it will be a long way short of the £23 billion generated by the sale of 3G licences in the year 2000.
Ofcom has said that it is likely to put three tranches of frequency up for sale: these will be in the 2500 MHz -2690 MHz, 2010 MHz -2025 MHz and 2290-2300 MHz bands. The spectrum is likely to be made available on a technology neutral basis and will be used for a variety of services such as mobile television and 3G services, as well as mobile broadband access via technologies like WiMax.
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