Statement: Ofcom’s response to Vodafone’s and Telefónica’s requests to update the technical conditions of their mobile licences to enable the deployment of newer technologies including 5G

We have decided that it is appropriate to make changes to the technical conditions of the mobile licences held by Vodafone and Telefónica as requested. The changes:

Update the technical conditions of licences held by Vodafone in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz and 2.6 GHz bands: The variations will amend the licences with updated parameters to reflect the latest technologies and will remove technology restrictions within the licences making them technology neutral.

Remove a restriction placed on Telefónica’s unpaired spectrum in the 2.6 GHz band: The variation will remove a restriction on the 5 MHz block within Telefónica’s unpaired spectrum allocation adjacent to Vodafone’s unpaired allocation. This will allow Telefónica to use an unrestricted 20 MHz of spectrum compared with the 15 MHz currently available. Vodafone’s licence will be similarly varied.

Substantially similar changes are also available to other mobile licensees operating in the relevant spectrum bands upon request.