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Helen Goodman MP argues 4G delays cost UK £1m per day
The British economy is being hurt by the delay to the rollout of 4G mobile broadband technology, according to Helen Goodman MP.
According to the MP for Bishop Auckland, the auction of additional spectrum for 4G services could generate between £2 billion and £4 billion, plus a further £300 million from licence fees, reports Computing.
Ms Goodman claimed the sell-off could have taken place in 2010, but this never happened due to the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition's lack of backing for Ofcom, which is leading the process.
Consequently, the auction has been delayed until the final quarter of 2012, meaning the first 4G mobile broadband services will not be available in the UK until 2013.
This means Britain will be one of the final countries in Europe to gain access to 4G connectivity, a fact Ms Goodman described as "shameful" given its position as one of the world's largest producers of mobile technology.
The world's first deployment of Long-Term Evolution mobile services took place in Oslo and Stockholm in 2009, and the technology has been available in the US since the following year.
"Consumers need better mobile coverage - particularly in rural areas - and it is disappointing that it has taken the government 18 months to get on with the auction," she commented.
Despite her complaints, the delays have partially been caused by opposition to the auction from the network operators about when and how the sale should be held.
Ms Goodman is not the first to attempt to put a figure on the economic impact of the decision to push back the auction until the end of the year.
Last October, Open Digital claimed the move will cost the economy between £183 and £366 million and argued a more ambitious rollout timetable from Ofcom would help businesses make time savings worth £732 million per year.