The Communications Consumer Panel, an independent group of experts established to provide advice to Ofcom, have asked the regulator to use the forthcoming UK 4G spectrum auction as an opportunity to increase mobile coverage.
It’s proposing that coverage obligations are set at national or regional levels across the UK. Alternatively, it would like to see money from the spectrum auction used to pay operators who’d then provide cross-network roaming for these areas.
Bob Warner, who chairs the Communications Consumer Panel, said “This is a critical moment, and we have a unique opportunity to resolve the persistent problem of inadequate mobile coverage.”
The Panel also points out that the arrival of this new spectrum and technology shouldn’t cause a loss of focus on maintaining GSM coverage.