Page 131 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Ofcom Opens 3 Spectrum Consultations

UK comms regulator Ofcom has opened three separate available for satellite gateways, and the consultation proposes
consultations on its spectrum work, which relate to: changing how it would calculate fees in these bands. It welcomes responses
satellite gateway fees; a proposed new non-geostationary orbit to the consultation by September 9th 2025.
(NGSO) gateway licence for Amazon Kuiper; and introducing short Proposed NGSO gateway licence for Amazon Kuiper
notice, short duration licences in the lower 2.3 GHz band to support Separately, Ofcom is proposing to grant an NGSO earth station
demand from the Shared Access and PMSE (programme making licence to Amazon Kuiper UK Limited for a gateway site in Bude,
and special events) communities for quick spectrum access to Cornwall. This licence would authorise Amazon Kuiper to operate
deliver innovative new services. an NGSO gateway earth station which connects to its planned NGSO
Satellite Gateway fees satellite system, which is also known as ‘Kuiper’. The gateway will
In recent years there has been a significant growth in demand help Kuiper provide high- speed, low- latency broadband services
for spectrum from the satellite sector as it provides connectivity to households, businesses and other customers in the UK, as well
to an increasing number of households and businesses. Ofcom as backhaul connectivity to telecommunications carriers. Ofcom
has facilitated this this growth by making more spectrum is inviting comments on Kuiper’s application, and its proposal to
available, including for satellite ‘gateways’ – components in grant this licence, by July 29th 2025.
satellite networks that connect the data beamed via satellites Short notice, short duration licences in the lower 2.3 GHz band
to the internet). However, increasing demand means that NGSO Ofcom has also opened a consultation on introducing short notice,
gateways can contribute to spectrum scarcity (for other satellite short duration licences for outdoor and indoor use in the 2320-
users and fixed services). Ofcom is therefore proposing to use 2340 MHz band. Under these proposals, the Programme Making
Administered Incentive Pricing (AIP) rather than flat fees for and Special Events and Shared Access communities (and other
NGSO satellite gateway licences, which will encourage users to users wishing to deploy a short duration network in spectrum
think carefully about their spectrum needs, incentivise the highest supported by mobile technology) would be able rapidly to secure a
value uses, and in turn promote economic efficiency and growth. licence to use this spectrum on a short-term basis. This provides
Ofcom already uses this approach for satellite gateway licences further support for innovative new spectrum users, and could open
for geostationary systems (GSO), and it is proposing to update up opportunities to use mobile technologies (e.g., 4G and 5G) for
our AIP fee formula to promote efficient use of spectrum. Ofcom news gathering and broadcast of major events. Ofcom welcomes
is also currently considering making Q/V and E spectrum bands feedback on these proposals by September 2nd.

VMO2 Buys £343m of Spectrum from Vodafone

Virgin Media O2 has today announced the details of its spectrum
transfer agreement with Vodafone UK that will see Virgin Media
O2 acquire 78.8 MHz of spectrum for an investment of £343
million, materially enhancing the company’s network position
and helping to improve the connectivity experience of consumers
and businesses across the country. The deal, which follows the
completion of the merger between Vodafone UK and Three UK,
and is subject to Ofcom approval, will bring Virgin Media O2’s total
mobile spectrum share to approximately 30%, ensuring the UK has
three scaled mobile network operators with a greater balance in
terms of spectrum holdings. The acquired spectrum comprises:
• 20 MHz of 1400 MHz Supplemental Downlink
• 18.8 MHz of 2100 MHz Frequency Division Duplex
• 20 MHz of 2600 MHz Time Division Duplex Businesses will also benefit, including the MVNOs who make use
• 20 MHz of 3400 MHz Time Division Duplex of Virgin Media O2’s mobile network via wholesale partnerships
The transfer is part of a wider deal struck between Virgin Media O2 to deliver their own mobile services to millions of people across
and Vodafone UK in July 2024 where the parties agreed to extend the country. The transfer of spectrum reduces the previous
and enhance their existing mobile network sharing arrangement imbalances in spectrum between mobile network operators in the
for more than a decade, and, following the completion of their UK, enhancing competition and allowing Virgin Media O2 to provide
merger VodafoneThree will now participate in that network sharing increased capacity, speeds and greater coverage for its customers.
agreement. Virgin Media O2’s spectrum acquisition, incremental The spectrum will be partially funded by the minority stake sale in
to its existing investment of more than £2 billion in its networks Cornerstone in 2024, with spectrum payments extending beyond
and services, will bolster the quality of its mobile coverage across 2025 and deployment occurring over the medium term, starting
the country and will deliver improved services for its customers. this year.

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