UK regulator Ofcom has today approved an application by the mobile phone operator Everything Everywhere to use its existing 1800 MHz spectrum to deliver 4G LTE services.

Following a consultation, Ofcom has concluded that varying EE’s 1800 MHz licences now will deliver significant benefits to consumers, and that there is no material risk that those benefits will be outweighed by a distortion of competition.2 Delaying doing so would therefore be to the detriment of consumers.

Ofcom's decision takes account of the forthcoming release of additional spectrum in the 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz bands, in an auction process set to begin later this year, which will enable other operators to launch competing 4G services from next year.

In parallel with this decision, Ofcom has now issued varied licences to Everything Everywhere which authorise LTE services from 11 September 2012. This means that operator can launch LTE services using its 1800 MHz spectrum at any point from that date, although the precise timing of any launch is a commercial decision for Everything Everywhere.

In June, earlier this year, Everything Everywhere started customer LTE trial in Cumbria in the North of England. The triallists included a regional office of United Utilities, the Blencathra Centre field studies educational facility situated on the side of Blencathra Mountain, the King Kong Climbing Wall, a manufacturing company and multiple web developers. 

Everything Everywhere plans to invest over £1.5bn in the next three years to further improve its network and introduce fast 4G LTE mobile broadband services.