Ofcom reveals names of bidders in 4G auction

Industry regulator Ofcom has today announced the seven bidders for the auction of bandwidth for 4G mobile broadband services in the UK.

Industry regulator Ofcom has today announced the seven bidders for the auction of bandwidth for 4G mobile broadband services in the UK.

The bidders are Everything Everywhere, BT, Vodafone, O2, Three, Hong Kong conglomerate PCCW and UK network supplier MLL Telecom.

Ofcom says the auction will increase the amount of airwave capacity available for mobiles by more than 75%. It is expected to raise £3.5bn for the Government.

"New 4G services will stimulate investment, growth and innovation in the UK, and deliver significant benefits to consumers in terms of better, faster and more reliable mobile broadband connections," says Ed Richards, Ofcom's chief executive.

Download speeds will initially be at least five to seven times faster than existing 3G networks, Ofcom claims.

EE 4G's network is already up and running and the company has confirmed its service will go live in 17 more towns and cities across the UK by March 2013.

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Andy Clough

Andy is Global Brand Director of What Hi-Fi? and has been a technology journalist for 30 years. During that time he has covered everything from VHS and Betamax, MiniDisc and DCC to CDi, Laserdisc and 3D TV, and any number of other formats that have come and gone. He loves nothing better than a good old format war. Andy edited several hi-fi and home cinema magazines before relaunching whathifi.com in 2008 and helping turn it into the global success it is today. When not listening to music or watching TV, he spends far too much of his time reading about cars he can't afford to buy.