Award of 700 MHz and 3.6-3.8 GHz spectrum by auction

Spectrum Spectrum awards Information for industry
Published: 5 May 2021
Last updated: 17 March 2023

The 700 MHz and 3.6-3.8 GHz frequency bands have been awarded by auction. The frequency bands are likely to be used by mobile network operators to deliver a range of services, including 5G mobile.

The Regulations for the auction came into force on 18 November 2020.

Update 27 April 2021 – Final auction results published

The auction has now ended, and the results published (PDF, 126.6 KB).

The Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Award) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 were made on 5 March 2021 and come into force on 9 March 2021.  The purpose of this amendment is to correct a drafting error in paragraphs 3(1) and 3(2) of Schedule 6 to the Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Award) Regulations 2020. A copy of the amendment regulations in the form registered by Ofcom on 5 March 2021 is available below for indicative purposes. However, www.legislation.gov.uk is the only authorised source for published statutory instruments.

Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Award) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (PDF, 46.5 KB)
Published 9 March 2021

The ‘Notice of coordination procedure for MOD sites related to the 3.6-3.8 GHz band’, which was published on 13 March 2020 as Annex 6 to the Information Memorandum, contained an error. In Figure 2.3, the text ‘Threshold for Signals in the 3410 to 3600 MHz band’ should have stated ‘Threshold for Signals in the 3600 to 3800 MHz band’. A corrected version of the notice is available below.

Notice of coordination procedure for MOD sites related to the 3.6-3.8 GHz band (PDF, 245.6 KB)
Published 14 December 2020

Statement on the final regulations for the award of spectrum in the 700 MHz and 3.6- 3.8 GHz frequency band (PDF, 328.0 KB)
Published 4 November 2020

Annex 1: The Auction Regulations (draft) (PDF, 1.6 MB)
Published 4 November 2020

Award of the 700 MHz and 3.6-3.8 GHz spectrum bands: Information Memorandum Update (PDF, 433.9 KB)
Published 4 November 2020

Statement: Conclusions to further consultation on modelling and technical matters (PDF, 1.0 MB)
Published 3 August 2020

Consultation: Further consultation on modelling and technical matters (PDF, 2.0 MB)
Published 15 May 2020

Statement: Award of the 700 MHz and 3.6-3.8 GHz spectrum bands (PDF, 2.0 MB)
Published 13 March 2020

Information Memorandum (PDF, 2.4 MB)
Published 13 March 2020

Consultation: Award of the 700 MHz and 3.6-3.8 GHz spectrum bands – Revised proposals on auction design (PDF, 658.9 KB)
Published 28 October 2019

Notice of proposals to make regulations for the award of 700 MHz and 3.6-3.8 GHz spectrum (PDF, 338.1 KB)
Published 28 October 2019

Consultation: Defragmentation of spectrum holdings in the 3.4-3.8 GHz band (PDF, 532.5 KB)
Published 11 June 2019

Consultation: Award of the 700 MHz and 3.6-3.8 GHz spectrum bands (PDF, 2.7 MB)
Published 18 December 2018

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