Auction to improve mobile broadband services?

Ofcom has been requested to conduct an auction of the 2.6GHz and 800MHz mobile broadband spectrum by the UK government.

The sale will allow telecommunications companies to compete for the space in order to develop them, offering better 3G and 4G mobile broadband services to a wider range of phone users.

Ofcom is set to provide a detailed market analysis of the spectrum and any licences that are issued will be made indefinite in order to encourage more competition for investment.

Communications minister Ed Vaizey said: “Under our plans, our mobile industry will have access to the 21st century infrastructure it needs to give UK consumers the latest technologies and even better coverage for broadband on their mobile phones.”

New figures from GfK have shown that sales of Android phones are soaring, with a more than 300 per cent rise seen in the first six months of the year.