Spectrum awards
Ofcom is responsible for making sure spectrum is allocated in the best possible way.
When we believe there is competitive demand for spectrum, we usually award it through an auction. That way it's up to the market to decide the best allocation.
Here you can find information about the awards in progress, awards likely to happen in the future and awards that have taken place.
There are no awards in progress at the moment.
mmWave
On 9 May 2022, we published a consultation (PDF, 4.5 MB) setting out our initial proposals for making millimetre wave (mmWave) spectrum in the 26 GHz and 40 GHz bands available for use of mobile technology, including 5G.
On 13 March 2023, we published a statement and further consultation (PDF, 3.6 MB), in which we set out our decisions on how we would approach existing users of this spectrum, and the authorisation of the 26 GHz band. We also consulted on proposals for the design of the auction for citywide licences, the licence conditions for citywide and local mmWave licences and how we would coordinate users of this spectrum.
On 25 May 2023, after considering licensees’ representations, we completed the statutory process for revoking existing licences in the 40 GHz band, with 5 years’ notice.
On 27 September 2023, we published a statement (PDF, 2.8 MB) on the licence conditions (including award licence duration) on which we will make mmWave spectrum available, and the method we would use to identify which fixed links are likely to receive harmful interference from new users in the 26 GHz band.
1.4 GHz
On 18 October 2023, we published a call for inputs (PDF, 2.3 MB) on making the 1492-1517 MHz block of the 1.4 GHz band available for mobile use. This seeks stakeholders’ comments on our initial technical analysis of the likely extent of interference mobile use of this spectrum could cause to users of the adjacent 1.5 GHz band, and on our initial views on the measures we could take to mitigate this interference risk.
| Award | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 700 MHz and 3.6-3.8 GHz | Completed | 2021 |
| 2.3 GHz and 3.4-3.6 GHz | Completed | 2018 |
| 870-876 MHz and 915-921 MHz | Completed | 2014 |
| 600 MHz Award | Completed | 2013 |
| 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz | Completed | 2013 |
| 790 - 862 MHz | Closed (superseded by 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz combined award) | 2009 |
| 2500-2690 MHz (with 2010 -2025 MHz) | Closed (superseded by 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz combined award). Also see 2010-2025 MHz | 2009 |
| 542 550 MHz (Licence covering Cardiff area) | Completed | 2008 |
| 758 766 MHz Manchester area | Completed | 2008 |
| 1452-1492 MHz (L Band) | Completed | 2008 |
| Digital Dividend Review | Closed (superseded by 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz combined award) | 2008 |
| 10 GHz, 28 GHz, 32 GHz and 40 GHz | Completed | 2007 |
| 1785-1805 MHz in Northern Ireland | Completed | 2007 |
| 412-414 MHz/422-424 MHz | Completed | 2006 |
| 1781.7-1785 MHz/1876.7-1880 MHz (GSM/ DECT guard bands) | Completed | 2006 |
| 3.4GHz Fixed Wireless Access | Completed | 2003 |
| 28GHz Broadband Fixed Wireless Access | Completed | 2000 |
| Third Generation (3G) Mobile | Completed | 2000 |