Although BT has just won a sizeable chunk of 2.6GHz spectrum in Ofcom’s UK mobile auction, the company isn’t planning to launch a national mobile phone network. Instead, it’s planning to use the bandwidth in conjunction with its existing WiFi network to provide customers with mobile broadband services.
Ian Livingston, BT’s chief executive, said “We are pleased to have secured this spectrum. We have said that we do not intend to build a national mobile network. Instead, this spectrum will complement our existing strategy of delivering a range of services using fixed and wireless broadband. We want our customers to enjoy the best possible connections wherever they are and this spectrum, together with our investment in fibre broadband, will help us achieve that.”
BT paid £186 million for the spectrum.