UK government has laid a statutory instrument (SI) before parliament requiring telecoms regulator Ofcom to launch a combined auction of frequencies in the 800MHz and 2100MHz band as soon as possible. The government aims spectrum auction before the end of 2011.

Earlier this month Vaizey, UK’s Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills, in a written answer said that the Government would make a decision on 4G for the UK before Parliament’s summer recess on the 29th July.

"We want the UK market to remain at the fore of delivering devices like the iPad and smartphones, but they need the networks to continue to improve and increase services," communications minister Ed Vaizey said in a statement on Wednesday, reports ZDNet UK.

This plan aims to liberalise 2G spectrum at 900MHz and 1800MHz as well. This would bring the UK into line with the EU's revised GSM directive to allow operators to use these frequencies for 3G technologies.

The spectrum in the 800MHz band is still in the process of being cleared of analogue users. The target date set by the EC for analog switch-off in EU member countries is 2012.