Need advice? Call our experts free on
0800 090 1342
O2 boss says 4G mobile broadband process is in last chance saloon
There is no further room for delay in the 4G consultation process, Ronan Dunne has argued.
Writing on the network operator's official blog, Mr Dunne stressed there is now "little margin for error" in the lead-up to the auction of spectrum for 4G services.
His comments come in the wake of Ofcom's announcement that the sell-off of the 800MHz and 2.6GHz spectrum bands will be delayed until the fourth quarter of 2012.
The process was originally scheduled to take place in the first three months of next year, but the telecoms regulator said it will now publish additional proposals later in 2011 before opening up an eight-week consultation next summer.
"Whatever proposals Ofcom comes up with in its next consultation need to be well thought through," Mr Dunne remarked. "It's in nobody's interest to see the process delayed any further."
However, the O2 boss insisted the decision to push the auction back to late 2012 should not affect the commercial availability of 4G mobile broadband services.
Even if the sale was to take place earlier, the 800MHz and 2.6GHz bands would not be fully available until 2013 when the final analogue TV channels are deactivated, he explained.
Mr Dunne went on to hit out at reports that have suggested Ofcom's plan to launch further consultation could have a negative effect on the UK economy.
Open Digital claimed delays to the auction could cost the country more than £1 billion, due in part to lost business efficiencies.
Employers will be able to save 37 million business hours per year once 4G mobile broadband is widely available, reducing their expenditure by £732 million, the organisation insisted.
But Mr Dunne was unconvinced, pointing out the delay should not impact on the launch of 4G.
"Some of the commentary that implied Ofcom's plans for further consultation risk harming UK competitiveness by delaying the launch of live 4G services miss this simple fact," he explained.