Ofcom will sometimes receive an application to trade spectrum. A register of trades is published under the Spectrum Information Portal in Ofcom’s Spectrum Information System.
For spectrum falling under the Wireless Telegraphy (Spectrum Trading) Regulations 2012, spectrum which is eligible for trading may be re-licensed to another licensee, subject to meeting certain basic criteria such as being free from any unresolved fee, variation or revocation notices or liability. For eligible licence classes (see Guidance notes), a licensee may apply for a licence variation to permit the leasing of spectrum to other parties.
Mobile spectrum trades
For spectrum falling under the Wireless Telegraphy (Mobile Spectrum Trading) Regulations 2011, we are required to consider whether competition issues may be relevant and to give our consent before the trade can take place.
We will usually publish a description of a proposed mobile trade on this page, so that interested parties can submit any concerns about the impact the trade might have on competition.
There are currently no mobile spectrum trade applications in progress.
Ofcom has received applications from Hutchison 3G UK Limited, UK Broadband Limited (wholly owned by Hutchison 3G UK Limited) and Vodafone Limited for trades of certain frequencies licensed to these companies.
The proposed trades are being considered by Ofcom under the Wireless Telegraphy (Mobile Spectrum Trading) Regulations 2011 (as amended in 2013 and 2015) and in accordance with Ofcom’s usual spectrum trading processes. Under regulation 7, Ofcom must consent before the spectrum in these bands can be traded on a concurrent or outright basis. Ofcom may conduct a competition assessment to determine whether the trades may distort competition.
Hutchison 3G UK Limited and Vodafone Limited will cease to be distinct under a joint venture between Vodafone Group Plc and CK Hutchison Holdings Limited (the “merger”). The merger received conditional clearance from the Competition and Markets Authority on 5 December 2024. The trades are requested to be put into effect on or after completion of the merger. As the trades would take effect post-merger, our provisional view is that the proposed transfers do not raise sufficient competition issues to justify further analysis.
The applicants have submitted transfer applications for Concurrent Total and Partial trades whereby the transferred rights and obligations become rights and obligations of the transferee while continuing, concurrently, to be rights and obligations of the person making the transfer. The result would be new licences held jointly by Vodafone Limited and Hutchison 3G UK Limited. Two licences would also be held concurrently with UK Broadband Limited. The list of licences requested to be traded are set out below.
|
Licensee |
Licence Number |
Frequency |
Details |
|
Hutchison 3G UK Limited |
713 – 723 MHz 768 – 778 MHz |
Concurrent Total transfer to Vodafone Limited |
|
|
Hutchison 3G UK Limited |
791 – 796 MHz 832 – 837 MHz |
Concurrent Total transfer to Vodafone Limited |
|
|
Hutchison 3G UK Limited |
1472 – 1492 MHz |
Concurrent Total transfer to Vodafone Limited |
|
|
Hutchison 3G UK Limited |
1721.7 – 1736.7 MHz 1816.7 – 1831.7 MHz |
Concurrent Total transfer to Vodafone Limited |
|
|
Hutchison 3G UK Limited |
2110.3 – 2124.9 MHz |
Concurrent Partial transfer to Vodafone Limited |
|
|
Hutchison 3G UK Limited |
3460 – 3480 MHz |
Concurrent Total transfer to Vodafone Limited |
|
|
UK Broadband Limited |
3480 – 3500 MHz 3580 – 3600 MHz |
Concurrent Total transfer to Vodafone Limited and Hutchison 3G UK Limited |
|
|
UK Broadband Limited |
3600 – 3680 MHz |
Concurrent Total transfer to Vodafone Limited and Hutchison 3G UK Limited |
|
|
Vodafone Limited |
880.1 – 885.1 MHz 925.1 – 930.1 MHz 890.1 – 897.5 MHz 935.1 – 942.5 MHz 1715.9 – 1721.7 MHz 1810.9 – 1816.7 MHz |
Concurrent Total transfer to Hutchison 3G UK Limited |
|
|
Vodafone Limited |
842 – 852 MHz 801 – 811 MHz 2500 – 2520 MHz 2620 – 2640 MHz |
Concurrent Partial transfer to Hutchison 3G UK Limited |
|
|
Vodafone Limited |
3410 – 3460 MHz |
Concurrent Total transfer to Hutchison 3G UK Limited |
|
|
Vodafone Limited |
3500 – 3520 MHz |
Concurrent Partial transfer to Hutchison 3G UK Limited |
In relation to these proposed partial trades, Ofcom has determined that the requirements (under regulation 7(1) of the 2011 Regulations) which concern the description of the parties and details of the proposed trade have been met. Ofcom is now inviting interested parties to submit comments by 6 January 2025, including on whether competition is likely to be distorted as a result of any of the transfers.
The details of the proposed transfers are posted on Ofcom’s Trade Notification Register.
Submissions should be sent to: spectrum.tradingdesk@ofcom.org.uk.
