UK: Ofcom announces it’s plan to release spectrum (via auction) for Mobile TV

Ofcom (the UK regulator for [Tele]comms) has announced it’s plan to auction off a chunk of radio spectrum, which would be suitable for Mobile TV. The deadline for applications to the auction will be 10/4/08, with a view to having the auction stating end of April.

“But I thought Mobile TV wasn’t due till 2010 or later?” I hear you say - well, yes and no…. there is a sizable chunk of spectrum that will be freed up in the 2.6Ghz range when the switchover to (terrestrial) digital television is complete - but there is ALSO a chunk of spectrum (1452-1492 MHz), called the “L-Band”, which is going to be freed up this year.

Now, Mobile TV isn’t the only potential use for this soon-to-be-available spectrum - which somewhat interestingly opens up the playing field to a wider bunch of bidders - services from providers offering wireless broadband, or other mobile multimedia services, could be in the frame for example.

So who do we think is going to go after this frequency block allocation? Anyone want to guess at some likely Mobile Operator candidates…?

[Via: Ofcom.com]