• Principal bidding stage for 26 GHz and 40 GHz spectrum auction has ended
• The UK’s three mobile networks (EE, Virgin Media 02 and VodafoneThree) have committed to pay a combined £39m to secure more airwaves
• These will boost mobile services in crowded areas like sports stadiums and train stations

A total of 5.4 GHz of spectrum was made available in the auction.

This spectrum, known as ‘mmWave’, is split across two bands: 26 GHz and 40 GHz.

It is ideal for improving capacity in crowded places where lots of people use their mobile phones at the same time, e.g. football stadiums, major concert venues and transport hubs. Mobile network operators will be able to deploy it in 68 towns and cities across the UK.

Three companies – EE, Virgin Media O2 and VodafoneThree - took part in the Principal stage of the auction, which involved them bidding for airwaves in ‘lots’ to determine how much of the available spectrum they each secured. The Principal stage bidding has now ended.

Results of the Principal stage

EE, O2 and VodafoneThree each won 800 MHz of spectrum in the 26 GHz band and 1 GHz of spectrum in the 40 GHz band.

They have committed to pay £13m each for this spectrum which has raised £39m,which will go to HM Treasury.

Next steps

The auction will now move to the Assignment stage. The companies can bid for the frequency positions they prefer for the airwaves they have secured in the Principal stage.

The final results of the auction, including the total amounts paid and the specific frequencies secured for each bidder period, will be published once all stages are complete.

David Willis, Ofcom’s Group Director for Spectrum, said:

‍“Today’s results are an important milestone on the path to better, faster 5G. The large amount of spectrum we’ve released will help support innovation, open doors to new applications and growth, and can bring noticeable improvements to mobile services in busier places up and down the UK.”

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