BT to consider bidding in mobile broadband spectrum auction

Fixed line broadband service provider, BT could be one of the bidders in government’s auction of 800MHz and 2.6GHz spectrum to be launched by regulator Ofcom by the end of 2011.

BT’s chief Ian Livingstone told the Dow Jones Newswires the auction bidding for 800MHz and 2.6GHz radio spectrum will be considered, however, ‘it is not high on the agenda’.

However, before bidding, BT will have a look at the terms and conditions of these things, he added.

The combined auction of these spectrum bands which can increase the coverage and capacity of mobile internet providers is scheduled to take place by the end of 2011, after the regulator Ofcom has studied the market factors for high speed mobile broadband services that include 4G, the Communications minister, Ed Vaizey said last week.

BT offers its mobile data services which can be optionally taken with its Total packages, under the mobile virtual network operation (MVNO) with the mobile operator, Vodafone.

Vodafone Mobile has recently signed MVNO deal with TalkTalk which is likely to launch its own mobile broadband services after this autumn, the news came with the announcement of the quarterly results of the latter.

The ISP has recently reported in its financial results that its customer base has topped 5,227,000 connections after a net addition of 96,000 new customers in the quarter that ended on 30 June 2010. Total fibre based broadband lines (Fibre to the cabinet) have exceeded 1.5m while the fibre deployment is currently covering 100,000 homes every week, BT said.