Licensing boost for UK 5G
June 25, 2019
UK comms regulator Ofcom has approved a request from the UK’s main mobile network operators to make technical changes to their spectrum licences, which will support the rollout of ultrafast mobile services.
EE, Hutchison, Telefónica and Vodafone will have their licences in the 3.4 GHz, 3.5 GHz and 3.6 GHz bands varied. These are considered important bands for future 5G services.
These changes will bring the licences in line with a recent EU decision on the technical conditions that apply to spectrum in these bands.
They will allow operators to deploy Active Antenna Systems. These can help deliver higher-quality mobile services in busy areas, by increasing network capacity and allowing spectrum to be transmitted to people’s devices more directly, so they get a stronger signal.
The changes come into effect on June 26th 2019.