UK comms regulator Ofcom has announced the companies that have qualified to take part in its upcoming spectrum auction.

Ofcom is releasing 40 MHz of spectrum in the 2.3 GHz band to improve broadband for today’s mobile users. It is also releasing 150 MHz of spectrum in the 3.4 GHz band to prepare for the roll out of future 5G services. The spectrum will be made available through an auction process, which Ofcom expects to start in late March 2018.

The auction plans, announced in 2017, had been subject to legal challenge by both Three and BT/EE. The High Court rejected these claims in December 2017, and earlier in February 2018, the Court of Appeal refused Three permission to appeal that decision. Ofcom is now pressing ahead with plans to hold the auction as quickly as possible.

Ofcom has assessed the applications received from companies wishing to take part in the auction, and is publishing details of those that have qualified. They are:

• Airspan Spectrum Holdings Limited
• EE Limited
• Connexin Limited
• Hutchison 3G UK Limited
• Telefónica UK Limited
• Vodafone Limited

All qualified applicants now have three days to confirm whether they wish to take part, or withdraw from the process. Ofcom will publish the final list of bidders that will be taking part, once this period passes.

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