After months, years even, of hypothesis and authorized motion, the primary part of Ofcom’s 5G spectrum auction is lastly over.

The £1.four billion raised for the treasury was a tiny fraction of the gargantuan sums generated by the notorious 3G public sale of 2000, and fewer than the £2.three billion paid within the 2013 sale, however this was nonetheless greater than preliminary estimates.

It seems as if all stakeholders shall be proud of the outcome – regardless of the courtroom drama that preceded the method. However what does it imply for the UK market?

O2 will get extra capability

O2 maybe had essentially the most to lose at this public sale. In 2013, it received 20MHz of 800MHz spectrum that will kind the premise of its 4G community, however not one of the 2.6GHz airwaves up for grabs. The previous band provides lengthy vary, however lacks the capability of two.6GHz, that means O2 was at a possible drawback when it got here to densifying networks in city areas.

The Telefonica-owned operator had shrugged off ideas that this was a problem prior to now, preferring to give attention to the trade’s favorite complaints about entry to websites and planning permission, however the argument has now been put to relaxation.

“O2 emerged as the large winner, sweeping up all the essential 2.3GHz airwaves that may instantly supply much-needed 4G capability,” mentioned Kester Mann, an analyst with CCS Perception. “As essentially the most spectrum-constrained operator, this sale was extra essential to O2 than any of its rivals and the outcome offers it the knowledge to proceed its mobile-centric technique within the UK market. It would additionally give dad or mum Telefonica some readability over its meant IPO for the community.”

O2 is proud that uSwitch customers voted that it had the most effective protection, however community benchmarking companies have constantly ranked it final in total exams, regardless of some good performances in particular person classes and in some areas. The operator is famend for its customer support, however this could solely go as far as demand for protection and knowledge goes up.

The acquisition of the two.3GHz airwaves offers O2’s 4G plans an enormous shot within the arm and it has already confirmed it should deploy the spectrum throughout its LTE community instantly in London, with different cities, together with Newcastle, Leeds and Edinburgh within the coming months.

“With this spectrum funding we will construct on our publicly recognised Finest Community Protection, to paved the way on community reliability and repair as nicely,” mentioned O2 CEO Mark Evans. “The true winners on this public sale are prospects as O2 invests to additional strengthen its award profitable community. The airwaves we have secured permit us to additional improve our community, each now and sooner or later.

Operators can begin planning for 5G

All 4 main operators received three.4GHz airwaves that can energy the primary tranche of 5G providers once they arrive within the UK – in all probability in 2020. O2 will use the 40MHz of three.4GHz airwaves it received to energy its deliberate 5G testbed within the O2 enviornment later this 12 months and ultimately its future community, as will EE.

EE was banned from collaborating within the 2.3GHz public sale due to cap on ‘usable’ spectrum imposed by Ofcom earlier than the public sale, however it will likely be comfortable at securing spectrum for its 5G service, as will Vodafone, which received 50MHz price – greater than anybody else.

“Vodafone may even be glad with the end result, spending essentially the most on 5G spectrum,” added Mann. “This re-enforces its renewed long-term dedication to the UK market following a number of years within the doldrums. It nonetheless has lots to do to show its fortunes round, however immediately’s information will increase long-term efforts to regain misplaced momentum.”

Three received the least quantity of any spectrum in both public sale, getting simply 20MHz of three.4GHz to play with. This was a bit of stunning given the authorized motion it pursued in a bid to make Ofcom’s spectrum cap even decrease.

“The end result for Three will do little to enhance its precarious market place,” continued Mann. “Having campaigned tirelessly for extra beneficial situations, it was stunning to not see it spend extra. It will likely be significantly upset to overlook out on the very important 4G airwaves to assist its data-hungry prospects. Three stays sub-scale and with out fixed-line property in a market regularly shifting in direction of multiplay providers and immediately’s final result will do little to dampen doubts over its long-term future.”

Nevertheless it’s price declaring that Three does have important three.four – three.9GHz spectrum property that it acquired through the takeover of UK Broadband, which delivers fastened wi-fi entry (FWA) broadband beneath the Relish model.

By way of the opposite members, small cell operator Airspan walked away empty handed, whereas Hull-based FWA broadband agency Connexin withdrew earlier than the public sale obtained underway.

What now?

Ofcom shall be comfortable that its aim of releasing as a lot spectrum as potential for 4G and 5G providers has been furthered and that its spectrum cap has been carried out with out additional authorized obstacle.

Quite a lot of headlines will state that 5G in the UK is now one step nearer, however the actuality is that that the 2020 deadline remains to be largely set in stone except one of many UK operators decides to leap the gun. The three.4GHz band is only one of many bands earmarked for 5G together with 700MHz and millimetre wave (mmWave) spectrum and that is merely the primary stage.

Certainly, it will likely be the 700MHz frequencies utilized by Digital Terrestrial Tv (DTT) which are the subsequent to be made out there at public sale – probably subsequent 12 months – so though this was an vital improvement, it wasn’t judgement day.

“An unsatisfactory final result on this public sale was by no means going to essentially spell the tip to anybody operators 5G future on condition that the know-how will finally work throughout numerous spectrum bands, each new ones and ones already held by the cellular operators,” commented Matthew Howett from Meeting Analysis.

So if there have been no losers, then who have been the winners? Possibly it was O2, however finally it’s the shoppers who will get higher networks from operators who can spend extra money on infrastructure fairly than spectrum licences.

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