As some regulators in Europe practice patience, in the UK Ofcom moves to release the largest amount of spectrum it has ever awarded in a single auction
Companies will have a two-day window to register their interest in participating in the upcoming auction
On 3 September 2025, Ofcom confirmed that it would be accepting applications from prospective bidders between 16-17 September to participate in the auction for spectrum licences in the 26GHz and 40GHz bands. According to the regulator, these licences will allow the awarded mmWave spectrum to be used for mobile technology, including 5G, which will help unlock significant benefits for consumers and businesses across the UK. For example, they will enable operators to improve mobile broadband services to meet current and future data demands, particularly through increased capacity and speeds in cities, major towns and busy areas (e.g. train stations and sports and music venues). Ofcom also considers that mmWave spectrum could enable innovative wireless applications requiring large amounts of data or very high speeds – or both.
Ofcom confirmed that the approval of the Three/Vodafone merger would have no bearing on its policy decisions regarding mmWave
Ofcom already makes spectrum in the 26GHz band available through its shared access licensing regime, which offers local area licences on a first come, first served basis to, for example, provide fixed wireless access (FWA) services to rural communities or establish a private network at specific industrial sites. However, until now, mobile operators have only had exclusive access to spectrum below 4GHz where shorter wavelengths (especially sub-1GHz) offer better coverage properties than they do performance. As part of the upcoming mmWave auction, Ofcom will assign 15-year licences for spectrum in 68 “High Density Areas”, i.e. towns and cities in the UK where the regulator has identified high demand for mobile data. Overall, it will make 5.4GHz of mmWave spectrum available across the two bands – the largest amount it has ever released in a single auction. Further details on licence terms and the award process were set out in Ofcom’s November 2024 Information Memorandum. The following month, the regulator underlined that the approval of Three/Vodafone merger (and the resultant new market structure) would not require it to change any of the policy decisions it had made in respect of the mmWave auction, including not imposing competition measures such as spectrum caps. Ofcom now expects to begin the principal stage of the auction in mid-October 2025, at which reserve prices per lot of 26GHz and 40GHz spectrum have been set at £2m and £1m, respectively.
The regulator considers that the award will contribute to the UK Government’s push for growth across the economy, but is the demand there?
Ofcom stated that while mmWave bands have been identified for mobile services globally, their deployment (including for 5G in Europe) is still at an early stage. As a result, the UK is poised to become one of the first countries to release this spectrum in large quantities. In doing so, Ofcom’s aim is to enable innovation and improvement in services across the mobile sector, while it has previously argued that the move will also represent an initiative to support growth in the wider economy “in tune with” the Government’s industrial strategy. However, elsewhere in Europe, there has been scepticism about the need for an immediate allocation of mmWave to mobile operators. In Poland, the UKE began consulting in 2020 on a potential mmWave auction; however, responses from operators urged the regulator to delay the process until at least 2026, citing a lack of equipment and systems for the launch of commercial services. Similarly, in Switzerland, the Federal Council has indicated that it is looking for stronger demand signals from the market before awarding the spectrum.
