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O2 launches LTE trial across UK ahead of next year's 4G spectrum auction
BT's gonna have to make some room at the 4G table, now that O2 has launched its very own LTE trial across the UK. Today, the provider dipped its toes into the LTE pool for the first time within London, a little less than a year after announcing a similar test across Germany. The nine-month trial will begin at 25 test locations across London, before spreading out to encompass a full 40 square kilometers and some 1,000 participants. Obviously, not all customers will be able to grab a slice of the pie, but those who do receive one of Samsung's B3730 modems will benefit from connection speeds of up to 100Mbps. According to the company, that should allow users to download a 500MB file in just one minute, compared to the five minutes it would take on a normal 3G connection. Time will only tell whether these dreams become a reality, but O2 is certainly hoping to benefit from the feedback it receives from its guinea pigs, ahead of next year's 4G spectrum auction. Find out more, in the full PR after the break.
UK 4G network auction delayed, spectrum sell-off pushed back to the end of 2012
The dizzying world of 4G speeds remains a distant prospect for Britons, with telecoms regulator Ofcom deciding to delay the auction for the next generation of mobile spectrum. It was looking to sell off two potent bands of wireless network by the end of this year, but those plans have been put on hold by some legal jostling and desk-banging from UK carriers, with the British equivalent of the FCC saying it received several "substantial and strongly argued responses." The sell-off delay might not affect any launch dates for 4G (already being tested in rural parts of the UK), as the bands up for grabs still won't be available until 2013. But eventually all of this to-ing and fro-ing will test even the Brits' stoic patience.
France to auction off 4G spectrum, carriers ready to get their bid on
If you have a few billion euros hiding in your couch cushion and you've always dreamed of owning a coveted sect of airspace, might we suggest a 4G auction? France has some 18 blocks of high-speed spectrum up for grabs this September in the 800MHz and 2.6GHz bands, and wants at least 2.5 billion euros ($3.6b) in exchange for the whole enchilada. Expensive as it may seem, there's no reason to believe it shouldn't easily surpass that amount; the biggest competitors are definitely not lightweights by any stretch of the imagination, and -- as this will be the last of such spectrum to be sold for at least ten years -- we know each contender will be on its A-game. Fortunately the government has regulated the whole affair to keep spectrum-hogging to a minimum: no company can buy more than half of the "beachfront" 800MHz band, and no more than 15MHz of the 2.6GHz (out of 70MHz available). The most awe-inspiring regulation, however, is that victors will be required to build out their 4G networks in rural zones, ensuring that 90 percent of the population will have access to high-speed mobile broadband within 12 years. Could the US government learn a few things from this process?
UK 4G spectrum set to be auctioned off next year
Ofcom, the UK version of the FCC, is currently sitting on two fat bands of prime 4G spectrum, at 800MHz and 2.6GHz, but it won't be doing so for long. This morning has seen an announcement from the independent regulator that it's looking to sell off those airwaves to the highest bidder, as early as 2012, pending the conclusion of a consultation on how to ensure the auction helps promote, rather than stifle, competition. The 800MHz band comes directly from spectrum freed up by the country's transition to digital television, and together with the 2.6GHz is equivalent to three quarters of all the mobile spectrum the UK uses today. The usual suspects of O2, Vodafone and Everything Everywhere will be vying for prime position in the next wave of superspeedy internet ... we just wonder how 3G-centric network Three will react to the news. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
