Ofcom denies broadband spectrum bundling claims
The communications industry regulator Ofcom has denied speculation that the planned mobile broadband auction will be further delayed so as to allow the 900MHz spectrum to be bundled together with the 2.6GHz spectrum.
According to some unofficial reports from the recent Mobile World Mobile Congress in Barcelona, the watchdog was looking at delaying the move so the different broadband spectrums could be bundled together in a single auction, with the speculation prompting concern among WiMax operators who are keen for the 2.6GHz spectrum to be in commercial use as quickly as possible.
However, though it admitted that the rollout of the lower spectrum is running behind schedule, having originally been pencilled in for late last year, Ofcom has denied that it is looking to bundle the two together.
"We have no plans to include the [refarmed 900 MHz] spectrum in the 2.6 MHz auction," a spokesman for the body stated.
"That's an unequivocal 'no'."
According to the Broadband Wireless Association (BWA), this delay is largely a result of the lengthy consultation currently in place which the regulator is required to deal with.
"Ofcom has tried to avoid a situation where they make a decision and later be challenged by somebody," said BWA chairman Stephen Lowe.
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