Ofcom has set the date to auction off the mmWave spectrum for October 2025.
The regulator has been waiting for the Competition and Markets Authority to make its decision on the Vodafone and Three UK merger before finalising its plans for selling the mmWave frequencies.
"We have considered whether we need to review any of the policy decisions we have taken for the mmWave auction in light of the CMA's decision, and we consider all of our decisions would remain appropriate in a three player market," Ofcom said as it shared its auction plan.
"In particular, we do not consider that the new structure of the market changes our reasoning for not imposing competition measures."
Participants will be required to submit their applications on 16 and 17 September 2025, with the principal stage of the sale kicking off the following month, Ofcom said. It chose those dates to enable the merged entity to prepare for the auction, it said.
In September, the regulator confirmed that it will open the 26 GHz and 40 GHz spectrum bands to mobile technology, including 5G services.
Opening up these spectrum bands can improve mobile services – particularly capacity and speeds in cities and major towns – as well as enabling wireless applications that require large amounts of data, very high speeds, or both.
Ofcom has confirmed that three categories of spectrum lots will be auctioned: 26 GHz lower (25.1-26.5 GHz), 26 GHz upper (26.5-27.5 GHz), and 40 GHz (40.5-43.5 GHz).
Each lot will comprise of a block of 200 MHz, with reserve prices set at £2 million for each lot of 26 GHz lower and 26 GHz upper, and £1 million for each lot of 40 GHz.
The auction will be run in two stages. The principal stage will decide the quantity of spectrum each bidder will be allocated. This will be followed by an assignment stage which will decide the precise frequencies allocated to each winner.
Source: https://www.commsbusiness.co.uk/content/news/ofcom-sets-2025-date-for-mmwave-spectrum-auction