Notice of proposals to make 900 MHz, 1800 MHz & 2100 MHz public wireless network licences tradable

Mobile trading update 01/11/12
Mobile trading application received from EE and Hutchison 3G

Following receipt of all necessary approvals Everything Everywhere Limited (EE) and Hutchison 3G UK Ltd (Three) have applied to Ofcom under the Wireless Telegraphy (Mobile Spectrum Trading) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/1507) (the Mobile Trading Regulations) to transfer from EE to Three the rights and obligations which relate to the frequencies from (i) 1816.7 - 1826.7 MHz and 1721.7-1731.7 MHz, and (ii) 1826.7 - 1831.7 MHz and 1731.7 - 1736.7 MHz. The application requests that the transfer of the frequencies set out in (i) above is to take effect from 1 October 2013, and in (ii) above is to take effect from 1 October 2015.

Ofcom is considering this application in accordance with the Mobile Trading Regulations and its usual spectrum trading processes. The spectrum to which this trading application applies is the spectrum that EEs parent companies committed to divest as part of the creation of EE. In its statement on making the Mobile Trading Regulations (see http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/trading-900-1800-2100/statement/ ) Ofcom set out at paragraph 3.21 that it did not intend to undertake an ex ante competition check under those regulations in relation to this spectrum.