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.

Ofcom has published new research that looks at customer service satisfaction with the UK's largest landline, broadband, mobile and pay TV providers.

Thousands of consumers were interviewed in February as part of Ofcom's research and were asked to rate their customer service experience if they'd recently contacted their provider.

Last week UK regulator Ofcom announced that mobile phone operators were now allowed to trade spectrum. Robin Kent, director of operations at Adax Europe, has published an open letter in response:

Following Ofcom's announcement to allow phone operators to trade spectrum in a move intended to increase mobile network capacity, it seems that the whole industry is solely focused on this to resolve the strain on the network.

Mark Bridge writes:

There's been a bit of a location-based theme in the mobile industry this week.

Hardly surprising, with a new report from Pyramid Research saying location-based advertising is becoming increasingly popular – and NAVTEQ revealing that most consumers are happy receiving promotional offers in exchange for free location-related content.

In The Fonecast this week we talk about mobile payment plans from the 'big three' network operators, a new bill-paying app from Pizza Express, spectrum trading, Nokia's new MeeGo smartphone, RIM's problems and a lot more.

Download this week's show from iTunes - or listen to the podcast by using the audio player on our website.