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26|09|06

Qualified applicants for spectrum auction

Ofcom today announced that six organisations had qualified to bid in the forthcoming auction of Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 (WT Act) licences for the use of the spectrum bands 412-414 MHz paired with 422-424 MHz.

The qualified applicants are:

• AirRadio Ltd
• Arqiva Limited
• Motorola Ltd
• The Joint Radio Company Limited
• T-Mobile (UK) Ltd
• Ventura Team Spectrum One Ltd

Ofcom also announced that the single round, sealed bid auction will provisionally take place on 5 October. A total of 4 MHz of spectrum is available and WT Act licences will be awarded on a technology and application neutral basis.

A number of potential uses for these bands have been identified, including:

• private business radio, such as on-site taxi or courier radio systems;
• public access mobile radio systems, where a network provider services a number of business customers on a local, regional or national basis; and
• programme making and special events, for example spectrum used for outside television broadcasts.

Section 3(2) of the Communications Act 2003 requires Ofcom to secure the optimal use of the spectrum and section 154 of the Act requires Ofcom, in carrying out its spectrum management functions, to have regard to the extent to which spectrum is available for use. In January 2005 Ofcom published the Spectrum Framework Review: Implementation Plan which proposed a number of awards across a wide range of spectrum.

Further details of the organisations that are qualified to bid in the 412-414 MHz paired with 422-424 MHz auction the can be found in the Related Items.

Ends.

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