This consultation started on 13th February 2009 and ends on 1st May 2009.

1.1 This consultation is about the future of the spectrum currently used to provide 2G and 3G mobile services in the UK – the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2.1GHz spectrum bands. In particular we are consulting on how we should implement a proposed European Directive(-1-) and a draft Radio Spectrum Decision(-2-) that would require the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands to be made available for UMTS (3G) as well as GSM (2G) technologies.

1.2 UK consumers and citizens already enjoy enormous benefits from the services provided using spectrum in these bands. Our goal is to ensure that UK consumers and citizens continue to enjoy the greatest possible benefit from the use of these and other frequency bands, as demand, technology and the services offered, continue to develop and evolve.

1.3 We can already foresee, for example, potentially significant consumer and citizen benefits arising from the deployment of 3G technology in the spectrum bands currently used to provide 2G services – the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands. The deployment of 3G technology in the 900 MHz band in particular could bring significant benefits to consumers and citizens in the form of deeper and wider availability of mobile broadband services – access to these services at good data rates, available deeper in buildings and in more rural areas than would otherwise be the case.

1.4 Our policy is, in general, not to direct such changes however; rather it is to ensure that there are no regulatory barriers that could hinder such beneficial developments. At the same time our role is not entirely passive either – where we foresee a risk that the market will fail to deliver the full benefits of spectrum use to UK consumers and citizens, for example because spectrum is concentrated in the hands of fewer operators than it might otherwise be, we may take steps to reduce or eliminate that risk (provided that such steps are justified and proportionate).

1.5 On 29 January 2009 the Government published its Digital Britain Interim Report. In that report the Government specified a Wireless Radio Spectrum Modernisation Programme, which highlighted the importance of resolving quickly the future of the 2G spectrum, to allow re-use of the spectrum whilst maintaining a competitive market. The Government went on to explain that it believed that an industry-agreed set of spectrum trades could represent a better and quicker solution than one imposed through regulation. It gave the industry until the end of April 2009 to agree a way forward, or the Government will support an imposed solution.

1.6 Ofcom too would welcome a proposal from the industry for a set of spectrum trades that would address potential distortions of competition arising from liberalisation of the 2G spectrum, and promote efficient use of this spectrum, for the benefit of consumers. This consultation document is intended to provide greater clarity as to Ofcom’s concerns in these regards, and hence what we will be looking for a voluntary solution to achieve. It also sets out Ofcom’s proposals as to what an imposed regulatory solution would look like, were the industry to fail to agree an acceptable way forward by the end of April 2009. As such we hope that it will provide a helpful context for discussions within the industry.

1.7 What follows therefore sets out Ofcom’s proposals in the event that there is not an acceptable agreed industry solution by the end of April, under the Government’s Wireless Radio Spectrum Modernisation Programme.

1.8 In the case of the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2.1GHz spectrum bands, we propose that a regulatory solution would comprise the following key steps to address potential distortions of competition and facilitate the efficient use of these spectrum bands for the provision of mobile services, for the benefit of UK consumers:

The following documents relating to this consultation are available: Application of spectrum liberalisation and trading to the mobile sector Application of spectrum liberalisation and trading to the mobile sector - A further consultation Mobile broadband services and spectrum Cost benefit analysis for 900MHz spectrum Assessment of impact and likelihood of wider access to 900MHz spectrum Competition and delay to liberalisation modelling Summary of analysis of differences between frequencies Market scenarios Timing of network rollout and use Access to lower frequencies in more densely populated areas - site counts Less densely populated areas - site counts Differences between bands - costs Cost of clearing and releasing spectrum Draft amending GSM directive Impact of delay on cost and benefits of release Attitudes towards mobile broadband How to Respond Responses

http://www.tellthemwhatyouthink.org/consultation/con-2010-application-spectrum-mobile-sector