Today the United Kingdom steps in a new era - era of airwaves control. This control is managed by the British company - Ofcom. Ofcom – is the independent authority for the UK communications industries as radio, television and all wireless communication services. The company has the right and responsibility to sell the whole spectrum of the nation airwaves as well as providing companies with the licences. This tendency has a great future for the UK plc.



Current position. Fourth auction of radio spectrum licences performed by Ofcom was held in February, 2008. Lucky bidders - business giants such as Orange, T-Mobile and BT competed for 10, 28, 32 and 40 GHz bands. Less famous professionals like MLL Telecom, UK Broadband and Arqiva took part in this auction too. What was remarkable? The amount paid for every MHz was about 178 pounds. It is really –very CHEAP!!! MLL Telecom has been successful, being awarded national spectrum licences in the 32 and 40 GHz bands. MLL Telecom supplies customers with wireless, safe and secure, rapid and cost-beneficial, future-proof connectivity. MLL delivers network to the places where other companies cannot reach. MLL customers include such network operators like BT, Affiniti etc. This auction of 40 MHz is presently in progress development. The range of use is mobile TV, broadcasting. An important aspect of the nature of airwave is its frequency, length and speed. By the length airwaves divide into short, medium or long ones. Now you see that propagation straight depends on the frequency, length and speed. What is valuable here? Normally, the lower the frequency of the wave- the better signals go through the obstacles and enter the buildings. To tell you the truth the prices are really cheap – as this gives an opportunity for the new services to spread out more efficient and quicker.

Future plans. Last week Ofcom declared future plans for the 2.6GHz bands. This spectrum can serve new wireless services. The auction is going to be launched in the summer. The working mechanism of the auction is like that- demand gives born to the market and the last settles on the range of the frequencies and consequently their particular use and apply taking into account the price the bidder is ready to pay for. This technology is rather efficient and dynamic, also saleable. Furthermore, you can use the frequencies or do not use them, but you are forbidden to change the way of usage of the spectrum assets are oriented to. It is really obvious that the atmosphere in this sector has changed rather drastically just in the last 5-8 years within the United Kingdom.

Conclusion. First of all the whole system produces wanted and needed spectrum supplied and guaranteed with the working licences. What is important that this programme is managed by one regulator – Ofcom, so no other sellers or providers. Evidently, the market will widen due to the amount of released spectrum thus provoking the progress of the radio industry in the UK. In the second place, and also significant- is correlation between diverse blocks of bands. For instance, MLL possesses bands of 32GHz and 40GHz – they are perfectly fit WiMAX and mobile service providers. So, MLL need to correlate with the final – consumer in order to use this band more efficient. Consequently, all parts are involved in this process should co- operate and correlate in order to work more effective and successful.