Ofcom agrees 2G and 3G spectrum reuse for 4G rollouts

Ofcom's decision to let mobile operators reuse their 2G and 3G spectrum holdings to deliver 4G services is unlikely to provide them with any short-term benefits, it has been claimed.

The mobile regulator has given mobile operators the green light to reuse spectrum to offer 4G services in the future, having already granted EE permission to reuse its 1800 MHz band last summer.

In a statement, Ofcom said the move means operators can reuse their existing 2G and 3G network provisions without having to gain regulatory approval first.

"[This] liberalises' all mobile licences in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz bands to permit the deployment of LTE and WiMAX (4G) services, where such licences have not already been liberalised," the Ofcom statement read.

"It also permits an increase in the maximum permitted base station transmit power in the 900 MHz frequency band for 3G and 4G technology."

Matthew Howett, practice leader for regulation and policy at market watcher Ovum, said it is unlikely any of the major operators will be able to exploit Ofcom's ruling straightaway.

"[This is because] they would first need to be cleared of their existing use through a process of refarming that would probably takes years rather than months, and so the spectrum recently auctioned by Ofcom will most likely be used for Vodafone, O2 and Three's initial deployment of 4G services," he said in a statement to IT Pro.

Even so, the move has been welcomed by operators, with a spokesperson from O2 telling IT Pro: "Although these changes won't have an impact on our 4G launch this summer, we welcome the decision from Ofcom and the flexibility that these changes will allow in the future."

In a further statement to IT Pro, Vodafone said the move was part of Ofcom's pledge to become "technology-neutral" when it comes to licensed spectrum, but said it is unlikely to have much impact on its impending 4G launch.

"We always wanted to run 4G on [the] new 800MHz spectrum as it provides the level of indoor coverage our customers expect from us," said a Vodafone spokesperson.

"That's why we spent 802m on the widest portfolio of spectrum in the recent 4G auction. As yet, there is very little kit available to run 4G on our existing 900MHz or 2100MHz spectrum and we only have a very small part of the 1800MHz spectrum."