UK's Ofcom follows FCC, agrees to sell off public radio spectrum

UK regulator Ofcom has already given some indication that it intended to follow the FCC and sell off some public radio spectrum of its own, and it now looks like its really about to get the ball rolling, with it giving the official go-ahead for some key spectrum to be sold off through a "market mechanism." As The Independent reports, that spectrum could wind up netting as much as £20 billion (or just under $40 billion) when all is said and done, with the Ministry of Defence (which holds about 75% of it) likely to be the biggest beneficiary. It'll likely still be a while before all those pounds start changing hands, however, with Ofcom still undecided about new regulations for the spectrum and the exact mechanism for selling off the spectrum not yet in place.

[StinkyPete @ Feb 1st 2008 6:02PM]

I guess Craig's List isn't the best "exact mechanism" for such a sale.

For sale: used radio spectrum, £20 billion. OBO Serious buyers only.

[pete @ Feb 1st 2008 6:33PM]

It's about time the MOD sold off some of their spectrum.

Now if only BT would install that fiber they keep talking about.

[Adam Higgitt @ Feb 2nd 2008 5:01AM]

Ofcom's priorities for some time have included a major programme of spectrum release, trading and liberalisation, generally by means of an auction (see here).

Details of the programme of award can be found here, included in which is the Digital Dividend Review - 470-862Mhz, the closest award to the FCC 700Mhz auction. The DDR will also be released by auction, with the exception of selected awards for PMSE users.

The UK is therefore a lot further along with this programme than implied in your article.

Adam Higgitt
Ofcom