UK completes 5G spectrum auction following two-month delay

British telecoms regulator Ofcom has completed its 5G spectrum auction following a two-month delay.

The spectrum auction was initially scheduled to take place in January but was pushed back amid another wave of COVID-19.

“The auction and subsequent release of spectrum remain central to the future rollout of mobile networks and 5G. The economy’s recovery from COVID-19 is dependent on resilient digital infrastructure and we urge Ofcom to resist any further requests for...

17 March 2021 | Legislation & Government

Ofcom pushes back 5G spectrum auction due to COVID-19

British telecoms regulator Ofcom has pushed back its upcoming 5G spectrum auction due to COVID-19.

The latest spectrum auction was due to be held this month. However, with just a week left until the end of January, Ofcom issued the following statement this morning saying that it would be pushed back:

“Throughout our planning for the auction we have been closely monitoring the coronavirus situation.

Following a pause in the auction process, we are now planning for...

25 January 2021 | Legislation & Government

T-Mobile switches off Sprint’s 5G network following $26.5 billion merger

T-Mobile is switching off Sprint’s legacy 5G network following the merger of the companies which finally closed on April 1st.

Sprint’s 5G, which uses 2.5GHz mid-band spectrum, has been taken offline while T-Mobile works to re-deploy it across its own network.

Most existing Sprint customers won’t be able to use their current devices going forward to access 5G, with Galaxy S20 users being the exception. T-Mobile is offering credits for affected customers to lease a...

3 July 2020 | Networks

FCC chief wants Congress to prevent spectrum auction by changing law

fcc ajit pai t band spectrum auction congress telecoms

FCC chairman Ajit Pai has called on Congress to change a law which mandates a spectrum auction that he believes is against America's interests.

“An FCC auction of the T-band is a bad idea. But as of today, the law mandates that we do it,” Pai said in a statement. “It’s unfortunate that Commission resources must be dedicated to laying the groundwork for an auction that will likely fail.”

The FCC is currently legally-obliged to auction off space in the 470-512MHz...

19 May 2020 | Legislation & Government