Ofcom finally announced yesterday that it intended to clear up the 800 MHz spectrum for mobile broadband providers. A switch to digital TV has freed up the spectrum that Ofcom now plans to use for mobile broadband. The freeing up of spectrum, also referred to as ‘digital dividend’, will bring the UK closer to the practices followed by other European countries.

The government initially had planned to free up only a part of the available spectrum back in 2003. But now, Ofcom has decided to make the whole 800 MHz spectrum available for mobile broadband which would bring it closer to European countries in terms of the technology used - click here for a mobile broadband comparison.

Many European nations like Switzerland, Spain, Germany and the Scandinavian countries have already been using the whole of 800 MHz spectrum for mobile broadband and others are set to follow suit.

The benefits of this move could be immense, as predicted by Ofcom. Stating a figure of over £2.5 billion, Ofcom says that the benefits will manifest in the form of lower prices of equipments, superior mobile broadband for the next generation, better competition and evolution of technology in the industry.

The mobile broadband providers will be in the fray when the spectrum is auctioned. The auction will take place only after the space has been freed up but no date has been announced yet.

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