Four operators in the UK auctioned a combined £1.36 billion for fresh allocations of 5G suitable frequencies. A total of 200MHz was sold across the 700MHz and 3.6GHz to 3.8GHz bands.
The auction started last week after it was delayed by two months due to issues around the COVID-19 pandemic. Market regulator Ofcom has put 34 lots up for sale. Following the completion of the bidding stage, the operators will now negotiate for specific allocations in a four week assignment process.
The sum raised matches the amount raised by Ofcom in the country’s auction of 4G and 5G spectrum in 2018. The biggest spender was BT-owned EE, which splashed a total of £452 million on 20MHz of paired spectrum in the 700MHz band, 20MHz supplementary downlink in the same band; and 40MHz in the 3.6GHz to 3.8GHz band.
Telefonica’s O2 UK paid £448 million for 40MHz in the 3.6GHz to 3.8GHz band and 20MHz of paired spectrum in the 700MHz band. CK Hutchison brand 3 UK won two allocations of 10MHz paired spectrum in the 700MHz band for £280 million. Vodafone UK spent £176.4 million for 40MHz in the 3.6GHz to 3.8GHz band.
Nokia and SURF, the organization for IT in Dutch education and research, have successfully reached a single carrier 800Gb/s optical transmission over SURF’s existing cross-border, multi-vendor research and education network infrastructure.
Nokia and Vodafone are collaborating to test the viability of L4S technology over passive optical networks (PON).
The GSMA believes that critical reform of European laws is necessary to position the region as a technology frontrunner by 2030.
