Britain clears 700 MHz radio waves for 5G auction in January

Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings

03/09/2020 24:01

LONDON, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Britain has cleared its 700 MHz
band of airwaves after a four-year programme that involved
retuning nearly 20 million TV sets, freeing up new capacity to
be auctioned for 5G mobile services in January 2021, the
government said on Thursday.
    Releasing the airwaves would help increase the total amount
of the radio spectrum available for mobile services in the UK by
nearly a fifth, it said.
    Digital Infrastructure Minister Matt Warman said: "We have
overseen a quiet revolution in the airwaves which will lead to
better mobile coverage for rural communities and unlock new ways
for 5G to boost business productivity and improve people's
lives."

 (Reporting by Paul Sandle; editing by Stephen Addison)
 ((paul.sandle@thomsonreuters.com; +44 20 7542 6843; Reuters
Messaging: paul.sandle.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))