4G Broadband: UK Roll-Out 'Not Until 2013'

Britain will have to wait until at least the summer of 2013 for the next generation of super-fast mobile broadband.

Communications regulator Ofcom has released details of plans for its 4G auction - which it claims will see mobile broadband rolled out across at least 98% of the UK.

Fourth generation, or 4G, mobile services will deliver much faster data speeds to phones and other wireless devices, such as tablets and laptops, enabling rapid downloads and live television streaming on the go.

But the technology has been available in Germany since 2010, and is already in use in the US, Norway and Sweden, prompting concerns that Britain is falling behind.

Ofcom said that statutory consultation would close on September 11 this year, with bidding expected to start in early 2013.

Mobile operators could then start rolling out 4G networks from the middle of next year.

Ed Richards, Ofcom chief executive, said: "The 4G auction has been designed to deliver the maximum possible benefit to consumers and citizens across the UK.

"As a direct result of the measures Ofcom is introducing, consumers will be able to surf the web, stream videos and download email attachments on their mobile device from almost every home in the UK."

Ofcom maintains that this is not a delay, and that they have consistently said the auction process would start towards the end of this year.

Much of the spectrum will not be available until 2013 anyway - part will come from the old analogue television signal, which will be freed up by the digital switchover, and another range is being used by the Olympics and Paralympic Games .

The new auction will offer the equivalent of three quarters of the mobile spectrum in use today, but existing 2G and 3G services will still be available.

The spectrum bands will be offered to bidders as a series of lots, valued at a reserve price of just under £1.4bn. The 3G auction in 2000 raised £22.5bn.

One of the most sought-after lots - in the 800MHz range - will come with an obligation to provide a mobile broadband service for indoor reception to at least 98% of the UK population by 2012.

Ofcom says this will likely mean outdoor coverage for 98-99% of the country, as indoor coverage is more difficult to achieve.

They hope this will encourage rival operators to extend their own coverage in response.

The UK’s "big three" mobile operators - Everything Everywhere (which includes T-Mobile and Orange), O2 and Vodafone - have previously challenged plans to set aside part of the spectrum for a fourth operator, likely to be Hutchinson 3G or a new company.

But Ofcom said it was important to maintain competition in the market and have retained the provision for a fourth operator.

An O2 spokesman told Sky News: "Ofcom’s detailed rules for the auction represent a significant step towards 4G launch in the UK.

"While Ofcom has taken a number of our suggestions on board, they are combined with other changes to the previous proposals.

"We will need to study the package in detail before responding to the Notice on the Regulations, which puts the rules into law."

A Vodafone UK spokersperson also said they would also be studying Ofcom’s proposals closely.

"A competitive market for the next generation of mobile internet services will bring substantial benefits to British consumers, businesses and the wider economy," they said.

"Ofcom appears to have created a mechanism to deliver the spectrum needed to run competitive 4G services and we welcome the work it has done.

"We also support the regulator’s desire to see 4G services delivered to as many people as possible.

"However, we will obviously need to study today’s lengthy documents to make sure they deliver the fair and open auction that this country needs."