Within Ofcom's Spectrum Group, the Authorisations team manages the radio spectrum resource currently allocated to public wireless telecommunications services including mobile cellular and broadband wireless access networks, both for the UK and for the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.
The work includes matters relating to the spectrum, licences and licensees as well as the potential impact of other technologies, services and developments on these areas.
Ofcom has received an application from EE Limited to trade its unpaired 2.6 GHz spectrum (2595-2620 MHz) from its Spectrum Access licence no. 1191194 to Telefonica UK Limited.
The proposed trade is being considered by Ofcom under the Wireless Telegraphy (Mobile Spectrum Trading) Regulations 2011 (as amended in 2013, 2015 and 2019, “the 2011 Regulations”) and in accordance with Ofcom’s usual spectrum trading processes. Under regulation 8, Ofcom’s consent is required before the spectrum in these bands can be traded. In determining whether or not to consent to a proposed transfer, one of the things that Ofcom takes into account is whether competition is likely to be distorted as a result of the transfer. Our initial view is that there would be a low risk of competition concerns resulting from this trade.
In relation to this proposed trade, Ofcom has determined that the requirements (under regulation 7(1) of the 2011 Regulations) which concern the description of the parties and details of the proposed trade have been met. Ofcom is now inviting interested parties to submit comments by 30 October 2020 detailing any competition concerns they might have about the proposed trade, as set out in the Wireless Telegraphy (Mobile Spectrum Trading) Regulations 2011.
The details of the proposed transfers will be posted on Ofcom’s Transfer Notification Register.
Submissions should be sent to: spectrum.tradingdesk@ofcom.org.uk.
No comments were received following Ofcom’s invitation to interested parties to submit comments by 30 October 2020 detailing provide any competition concerns they might have about the proposed trade, as set out in the Wireless Telegraphy (Mobile Spectrum Trading) Regulations 2011.
Therefore, Ofcom has consented to the transfer in accordance with Regulation 7(3)(a) of the Wireless Telegraphy (Mobile Spectrum Trading) Regulations 2011 and the trade has been completed in accordance with regulation 7(5).
Fixed wireless access (FWA) systems are a means of making fixed connections between users’ premises and telecommunication networks. They may deliver a range of electronic traffic, including telephony, high speed data, television and multimedia services.
At higher frequencies, the availability of wider bandwidths and the technical characteristics provide opportunities for delivering broadband wireless access (BWA), including as a backhaul for other telecommunications services. At frequencies in the 3 GHz band and lower where BWA has been used previously for delivering ‘last mile’ connections to user premises, developments in technologies now provide the opportunity to support mobility of user terminals within the coverage area of a BWA service.
There are currently a variety of access technologies that can be used for the delivery of broadband and fixed wireless access. These include, but are not limited to; WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), LTE (Long Term Evolution), HSPA (High Speed Packet Access), WCDMA (Wide band – Code Division Multiple Access) etc.
The choice of spectrum bands for such technologies is primarily a decision for industry. Ofcom does not allocate spectrum to particular access technologies, and where a licence has been issued in a technology neutral manner, the holder of that licence will be able to make their own choice of access technology.
Ofcom’s Spectrum Information System gives information about particular spectrum bands (UKPFA) and current tradable licences (WTR), including contact details of licensees. Spectrum trading is described in the Trading Guidance Notes (PDF, 668.3 KB).
Licence-exempt short range wideband data transmission systems are permitted in the 2.4 GHz band, described in the information pages for Short Range Devices and are subject to meeting the technical requirements set out for 2.4 GHz in the UK Interface Requirement IR 2030 (PDF, 1.2 MB).
In 2018, Ofcom awarded licences by auction in the 2.3 (2350-2390 MHz) and 3.4 GHz (3410-3600 MHz) spectrum bands, alongside a licence already held by UK Broadband Ltd: Spectrum Access 3.5 GHz (3480-3500 MHz and 3580-3600 MHz). Details of current licences and licensees are published at Mobile and Wireless Broadband below 5 GHz.
UK Broadband also holds a Spectrum Access 3.6 GHz licence* (3600-3680) in the adjacent spectrum band. On 28 October 2019 Ofcom published a consultation on the process to award the remaining spectrum in the 3600-3800 MHz band (and 700 MHz band). The auction is expected to take place from Spring 2020.
These bands are harmonised across Europe for mobile broadband and are likely to be used for 4G and 5G services.
Launched in December 2019, spectrum is also available in the 2390-2400 MHz and 3.8 – 4.2 GHz bands (among others) under the Shared Access licence.
[* UK Broadband’s 3.6 GHz licence also includes spectrum in the 3.9 GHz (3925-4009 MHz) band]
Licence-exempt short range wireless access systems and radio local area networks are permitted at low power levels in the 5 GHz Bands A, B and C (5150-5350 MHz, 5470-5725 MHz & 5725 – 5850 MHz), described in the information pages for Short Range Devices subject to meeting the technical requirements set out for 5 GHz WAS/RLAN in the UK Interface Requirement IR 2030 (PDF, 1.2 MB).
Licences are also available for Fixed Wireless Access in 5.8 GHz Band C (5725 – 5850 MHzon a non-exclusive basis at higher power than the exempt devices level. Details of the licensing process can be found at: 5.8 GHz Fixed Wireless Access.
An overview of available options in the 5 GHz bands is published in 5GHz Wireless Access Systems (PDF, 135.7 KB).
In November 2000, the Radiocommunications Agency auctioned several 28 GHz Broadband Fixed Wireless Access licences. It offered licence packages of 2 x 112 MHz in each of 11 English regions, plus Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
In 2008, Ofcom auctioned spectrum suitable for Broadband Wireless Access in four frequency bands:
10 GHz Band 10.125-10.225 GHz paired with 10.475-10.575 GHz;
28 GHz Bands 27.8285-28.4445 GHz paired with 28.8365-29.4525 GHz;
32 GHz Band 31.815-33.383 GHz; and
40 GHz Band 40.5-43.5 GHz.
Details of the award process are in the awards archive on our website at 10 - 40 GHz Award.
This award included the remaining unsold 28 GHz packages and, following a consultation process in 2013, most of the licence packages from the original award have been liberalised (PDF, 510.3 KB) in order to align their operating and technical conditions with those from the 2008 award.
Jan 2020
Frequency bands licensed for Mobile and Wireless Broadband | ||
|---|---|---|
800 MHz | 791 – 821 MHz | 832 – 862 MHz |
900 MHz | 880 – 915 MHz | 925 – 960 MHz |
| 1400 MHz | 1452 – 1492 MHz | |
1800 MHz | 1710 – 1781.7 MHz | 1805 – 1876.7 MHz |
Concurrent Spectrum Access | 1781.7 – 1785 MHz | 1876.7 – 1880 MHz |
2100 MHz | 1920 – 1980 MHz | 2110 – 2170 MHz |
1900 – 1920 MHz | ||
2300 MHz | 2350 – 2390 MHz | |
2600 MHz | 2500 – 2570 MHz | 2620 – 2690 MHz |
2570 – 2620 MHz | ||
3.4 GHz | 3410 – 3600 MHz | |
3.6 GHz | 3605 – 3689 MHz | 3925 – 4009 MHz |
10 GHz | 10.125 – 10.225 GHz | 10.475 – 10.575 GHz |
28 GHz Spectrum Access | 27.8285 – 28.4445 GHz | 28.8365 – 29.4525 GHz |
32 GHz | 31.815 – 32.571 GHz | 32.627 – 33.383 GHz |
40 GHz | 40.5 GHz – 43.5 GHz | |
Ofcom is responsible for authorising civil use of the radio spectrum and achieves this by granting wireless telegraphy licences under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (the “WT Act”) and by making regulations exempting users of particular equipment from the requirement to hold such a licence. Under section 12 of the WT Act we must prescribe in regulations (see ‘Reference Information’ section below) the sums payable in respect of wireless telegraphy licences other than those awarded by auction.
The WT Act enables us to recover the cost of managing WT Act licences by prescribing regulations under section 12 but, under section 13, it also permits the use of market mechanisms. For non-auctioned spectrum, the WT Act permits us to use Administered Incentive Pricing (AIP) and cost based fees. Ofcom has published information about its policy and methodology for such fees.
Most mobile spectrum licences are still within the initial periods granted under award processes and are not subject to further spectrum fees until these periods expire.
However, spectrum in the 900 and 1800 MHz frequency bands that was licensed before the use of spectrum auctions is subject to annual payment of spectrum fees. In 2010, the Government directed Ofcom to revise the fees for 900 MHz and 1800 MHz spectrum licences to reflect the full market value of those frequencies. Since then some spectrum in the 3 GHz band has also become subject to fees.
Ofcom consulted in June 2018 on Annual Licence Fees for 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency bands and in December 2018 on Annual Licence Fees for 3.4 GHz and 3.6 GHz spectrum, which have now been implemented.
The fees payable in respect of Wireless Telegraphy Act licences granted by Ofcom in Crown Dependencies are also set out in the licence charges regulations. Other non-WT charges that may be set by the Channel Island Competition and Regulatory Authorities (CICRA), the Isle of Man Communications Commission or any of the island Governments are outside Ofcom’s remit and enquiries should be directed to the relevant authority concerned.
Under the Communications Act 2003, administrative charges for the Networks and Services sector may also be payable, as set out in Ofcom’s Tariff Tables 2020/21 (PDF, 436.9 KB).
The use of spectrum in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man is governed by UK legislation that has been extended to Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man. The licensing of spectrum, in the UK and in these Crown Dependencies, is carried out by the Office of Communications (Ofcom), by virtue of the powers given to it by the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (WTA) and the Communications Act 2003, as and to the extent that these Acts are extended to the respective islands.
In addition, Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the UK and other countries set out coordination criteria for the radio spectrum bands in order to reduce the likelihood of interference across borders.
For a number of radio categories including business radio and fixed links, licensing in the Crown Dependencies is managed by Ofcom as a routine process alongside the licensing of such categories in the UK.
However for commercial applications such as mobile cellular and broadband wireless, telecommunications and competition regulation falls to local regulators. For the Isle of Man this is the Communications Commission (http://www.iomcc.im/); for the Channel Islands this is the Channel Islands Competition and Regulatory Authorities (CICRA - http://www.cicra.gg) comprising the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority (JCRA) and the Guernsey Competition and Regulatory Authority (GCRA - formerly the Office of Utility Regulation).
Those who wish to supply commercial radio communications services need first to apply to the relevant island regulator which will consider the application and whether there is a need either to consult or, sometimes depending of the result of consultation, to hold a competitive award for spectrum. The regulator will then make its recommendation for spectrum licensing to Ofcom. Where Ofcom judges the recommendation to be consistent with its statutory duties, a licence may then be granted subject to payment of the appropriate spectrum fee.
Channel Islands and Isle of Man licences are not currently tradable.
