Catenaa, Monday, October 13, 2025-The UK’s three major mobile network operators have been approved to take part in this month’s millimeter-wave (mmWave) spectrum auction, the national telecom regulator said last Tuesday, confirming the bidders but withholding the official auction start date.
Regulator Ofcom stated that all three operators are now locked into the process, with the withdrawal deadline passed, and that the auction will begin “soon.”
The sale will cover 5.4 GHz of high-frequency spectrum across the 26 GHz and 40 GHz bands, divided into 68 licenses targeting densely populated urban areas, including London, Glasgow, Cardiff, and Belfast.
Ofcom had delayed setting a specific timetable while awaiting the UK Competition and Markets Authority’s decision on the Vodafone–Three merger, finalized with behavioral conditions earlier this year.
The regulator has since confirmed the merger does not affect its auction plans, originally scheduled for October.
The auction will feature 200-MHz frequency blocks, with reserve prices of £2 million for 26 GHz lots and £1 million for 40 GHz lots. Operators have already placed a £1 million deposit to participate. Industry observers expect competitive bidding as operators race to expand 5G capacity in major cities.
The new spectrum is expected to boost network densification and support next-generation mobile applications, including industrial automation and advanced connectivity services. Ofcom has yet to announce the auction’s opening date, now expected imminently.
