LONDON (Alliance News) - Vodafone PLC has cleared its 3G coverage requirements, and will not face any further enforcement action, Ofcom said Friday.
In November 2013, the UK telecoms regulator had said that Vodafone had not met its requirement to provide 3G coverage of 90% in the UK population. However Vodafone indicated that it had a plan to meet that target by the end of the year.
In 2010 the UK government directed Ofcom to increase the obligation of telecommunication operators to cover 90% of where the UK population lives. EE Limited, Hutchinson 3G, Telefonica O2 UK Limited and Vodafone agreed to reach this coverage obligation by a deadline of June 30, 2013.
Although EE, Three and 02 met the obligation, Vodafone fell 1.4% short of the requirement.
Ofcom said Friday that Vodafone had said on December 20 that it had upgraded 129 sites. Ofcom assessed this coverage in January, and confirmed that Vodafone had successfully met its target.
Shares in Vodafone were trading down 0.8% at 223.89 pence Friday morning.
By Hana Stewart-Smith; hanassmith@alliancenews.com; @HanaSSAllNews
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