Last checked at 
(Alliance News) - The UK telecommunications regulator on Tuesday announced the final results of the 5G spectrum auction for the 700 megahertz and 3.6 to 3.8 gigahertz bands, granting licences to four bidders.
Ofcom said last month that the first phase of the negotiation period started on March 25 and ended on April 16. An additional GBP23 million was raised during the assignment stage, which allowed the companies to bid for the specific frequency positions they preferred for the airwaves.
BT Group PLC's mobile business EE Ltd has received licences for the 723 to 733 megahertz and 778 to 788 megahertz; 738 to 758 megahertz; and 3680 to 3720 megahertz frequency bands.
CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd's Hutchison 3G UK Ltd received licences for the 713 to 723 megahertz and 768 to 778 megahertz frequency bands, and Vodafone Ltd, part of Vodafone Group PLC, got a licence for the 3720 to 3760 megahertz frequency band.
Telefonica UK Ltd, part of Telefonica SA, received licences for the 703 to 713 megahertz and 758 to 768 megahertz frequency bands, as well as for the 3760 to 3800 megahertz frequency.
"Now the auction is complete, these companies can use these airwaves to rapidly rollout better mobile services to people across the UK. This additional spectrum will also support the ongoing launch of new 5G connections for people and businesses. Importantly, the bidders also have the flexibility to make trades, so they can optimise use of the spectrum they have won in the auction with their existing airwaves," said Philip Marnick, Ofcom group director of spectrum.
Ofcom said back in December that EE, CK Hutchison Holdings, Telefonica UK and Vodafone had qualified to take part in the spectrum auction and that they were established bidders as of January.
In London on Tuesday morning, shares in BT were up 0.5% at 157.25 pence and Vodafone wasup 0.4% at 134.84p. Shares in Telefonica were up 0.9% at EUR3.830 in Madrid. CK Hutchison closed down 0.4% at HKD63.85 in Hong Kong on Tuesday.
By Zoe Wickens; zoewickens@alliancenews.com
Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
