British regulator Ofcom will auction spectrum next year: “The 1452MHz to 1492MHz radio spectrum is being freed up by the transition from analogue to digital switchover” reports Tech.co.uk. While the article goes on to argue that the auction will be for mobile TV (and that there’s no demand for it) the Ofcom announcement notes that the licenses will be technology and application neutral—although part of that neutrality seems to be to allow for the recent interest in mobile TV and mobile multimedia services.

“The spectrum between 1452-1479.5 MHz will be packaged into 16 lots, each of approximately 1.7 MHz and the spectrum between 1479.5 and 1492 MHz will be packaged as a single lot. All spectrum lots will be for use throughout the UK.” The separation into so many blocks is so that bidders can bid for groups of blocks to put together the size they require. The auction will be in Spring next year, with each 1.7 MHz block having a reserve price of £50,000, and the 12.5 MHz block having a reserve price of £150,000.