3 may delay 4G LTE says CEO Dyson

wavejockglw · 26-03-2012, 19:39

From the Gauardian:

"3 the newest and smallest mobile network in the UK with a 10% market share, wants to persuade Ofcom to redraft the 4G auction rules, because it feels they do not do enough to ensure its survival.

It had been thought that 3 needed the spectrum auction to happen quickly because its network was running out of capacity.

But its UK chief executive, David Dyson, will tell a conference in London on Tuesday that this is no longer the case.

He will announce he has bought enough time to go to court, through new plans to double the capacity of his network with a technology upgrade.

[...]

3, which was loss-making until last year but has a rich backer in the Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka Shing, believes it will be outbid on 800MHz, and would like the watchdog to reserve some of it specifically for a fourth player. Without the lower frequency spectrum, 3 argues, its business will not be viable."

Full Story: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2...ion-4g-auction

wilt · 26-03-2012, 20:24

Can't blame them, Vodafone, o2 and EE are using the exact same tactics to attempt to get their own way in these auctions.

They'd be silly not to do the same.

Looks like there will be more delays to the auction, though

legends wear 7 · 26-03-2012, 21:22

Thought there already was ring fenced allocation for a 4th network, but that's not just for 3 to bid for, rumour is virgin will bid for it.

wavejockglw · 26-03-2012, 21:48

Why would a comapny bankrolled by a massive multinational be giiven preferential terms in a auction?

3 is owned by Hutchison Whampoa outright.

Look at that compnay ... via Wikipedia, or Google to get an idea of the scale of it.

Everything Goes · 26-03-2012, 21:54

Well if the stupid mobile phone companies hand not bid such outlandish amounts on 3G spectrum in the first place im sure things wouldn't be as bad as they are today for all involved.

Dragging 4G out in court is a good thing for the networks as they will have more time to recoup their investment in 3G without having to spend more money on 4G spectrum and new network infrastructure.

TheBigM · 26-03-2012, 22:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

Why would a comapny bankrolled by a massive multinational be giiven preferential terms in a auction?

3 is owned by Hutchison Whampoa outright.

Look at that compnay ... via Wikipedia, or Google to get an idea of the scale of it.

O2 and Vodafone have already received preferential treatment by getting to use 900MHz for 3G for free.

The lower frequencies have the best propagation characteristics and are highly desirable. Vodafone and O2 have already had their freebie (which OfCOM did because of their lack fo investment in 3G compared to Three; O2 had only 80% 3G coverage for a long time). EE is getting their freebie through early allowance of use of 1800MHz for LTE.

As the 800MHz is the highly desirable frequency due to better range and building penetration, Three wants part of it reserved for the fourth operator, note not for itself but for a fourth operator. This at least gives them a chance to bid for it considering they are a lot smaller than the other players.

Why should OFCOM consider such a thing? Because it might be in the best interests of consumers? A) Because ofcom feels four operators are needed to maintain sufficient competition in the marketplace. B) Who has proven more willing to invest in the network than Three? When everyone else has been cutting back to limited data, they've been rolling out the One Plan and all-you-can-eat data, they have wider 3G coverage than anyone, faster 3G than anyone and have innovated with other services like skype on feature phones, the facebook phone etc etc.

Three is the kind of network a consumer would want to keep around in the UK.

red_g00ner · 27-03-2012, 09:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigM

O2 and Vodafone have already received preferential treatment by getting to use 900MHz for 3G for free.

The lower frequencies have the best propagation characteristics and are highly desirable. Vodafone and O2 have already had their freebie (which OfCOM did because of their lack fo investment in 3G compared to Three; O2 had only 80% 3G coverage for a long time). EE is getting their freebie through early allowance of use of 1800MHz for LTE.

As the 800MHz is the highly desirable frequency due to better range and building penetration, Three wants part of it reserved for the fourth operator, note not for itself but for a fourth operator. This at least gives them a chance to bid for it considering they are a lot smaller than the other players.

Why should OFCOM consider such a thing? Because it might be in the best interests of consumers? A) Because ofcom feels four operators are needed to maintain sufficient competition in the marketplace. B) Who has proven more willing to invest in the network than Three? When everyone else has been cutting back to limited data, they've been rolling out the One Plan and all-you-can-eat data, they have wider 3G coverage than anyone, faster 3G than anyone and have innovated with other services like skype on feature phones, the facebook phone etc etc.

Three is the kind of network a consumer would want to keep around in the UK.

Well said and l completely agree. Am also a happy 3 customer

wavejockglw · 27-03-2012, 09:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigM

O2 and Vodafone have already received preferential treatment by getting to use 900MHz for 3G for free.

O2 and Vodafone have been allowed to refarm 900Mhz for free but will soon have to renegotiate what they pay for this spectrum, so not exactly free!

pinkteddyx64 · 27-03-2012, 09:55

I wonder what Ofcom and 3 might have to say if they saw this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ41GJ059ys Would it persuade them to resolve their dispute over 4G and thus a large scale 4G roll out in the UK will be delayed no longer?

26-03-2012, 19:39	#1
wavejockglw Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 10,276	3 may delay 4G LTE says CEO Dyson From the Gauardian: "3 the newest and smallest mobile network in the UK with a 10% market share, wants to persuade Ofcom to redraft the 4G auction rules, because it feels they do not do enough to ensure its survival. It had been thought that 3 needed the spectrum auction to happen quickly because its network was running out of capacity. But its UK chief executive, David Dyson, will tell a conference in London on Tuesday that this is no longer the case. He will announce he has bought enough time to go to court, through new plans to double the capacity of his network with a technology upgrade. [...] 3, which was loss-making until last year but has a rich backer in the Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka Shing, believes it will be outbid on 800MHz, and would like the watchdog to reserve some of it specifically for a fourth player. Without the lower frequency spectrum, 3 argues, its business will not be viable." Full Story: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2...ion-4g-auction

26-03-2012, 20:24	#2
wilt Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Potterspury Posts: 930	Can't blame them, Vodafone, o2 and EE are using the exact same tactics to attempt to get their own way in these auctions. They'd be silly not to do the same. Looks like there will be more delays to the auction, though

26-03-2012, 21:22	#3
legends wear 7 Guest Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,070	Thought there already was ring fenced allocation for a 4th network, but that's not just for 3 to bid for, rumour is virgin will bid for it.

26-03-2012, 21:48	#4
wavejockglw Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 10,276	Why would a comapny bankrolled by a massive multinational be giiven preferential terms in a auction? 3 is owned by Hutchison Whampoa outright. Look at that compnay ... via Wikipedia, or Google to get an idea of the scale of it.

26-03-2012, 21:54	#5
Everything Goes Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In the future.... Posts: 11,259	Well if the stupid mobile phone companies hand not bid such outlandish amounts on 3G spectrum in the first place im sure things wouldn't be as bad as they are today for all involved. Dragging 4G out in court is a good thing for the networks as they will have more time to recoup their investment in 3G without having to spend more money on 4G spectrum and new network infrastructure.

26-03-2012, 22:58	#6
TheBigM Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: moon Posts: 12,983	Quote: Originally Posted by wavejockglw Why would a comapny bankrolled by a massive multinational be giiven preferential terms in a auction? 3 is owned by Hutchison Whampoa outright. Look at that compnay ... via Wikipedia, or Google to get an idea of the scale of it. O2 and Vodafone have already received preferential treatment by getting to use 900MHz for 3G for free. The lower frequencies have the best propagation characteristics and are highly desirable. Vodafone and O2 have already had their freebie (which OfCOM did because of their lack fo investment in 3G compared to Three; O2 had only 80% 3G coverage for a long time). EE is getting their freebie through early allowance of use of 1800MHz for LTE. As the 800MHz is the highly desirable frequency due to better range and building penetration, Three wants part of it reserved for the fourth operator, note not for itself but for a fourth operator. This at least gives them a chance to bid for it considering they are a lot smaller than the other players. Why should OFCOM consider such a thing? Because it might be in the best interests of consumers? A) Because ofcom feels four operators are needed to maintain sufficient competition in the marketplace. B) Who has proven more willing to invest in the network than Three? When everyone else has been cutting back to limited data, they've been rolling out the One Plan and all-you-can-eat data, they have wider 3G coverage than anyone, faster 3G than anyone and have innovated with other services like skype on feature phones, the facebook phone etc etc. Three is the kind of network a consumer would want to keep around in the UK.

27-03-2012, 09:42	#7
red_g00ner Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: UK Posts: 790	Quote: Originally Posted by TheBigM O2 and Vodafone have already received preferential treatment by getting to use 900MHz for 3G for free. The lower frequencies have the best propagation characteristics and are highly desirable. Vodafone and O2 have already had their freebie (which OfCOM did because of their lack fo investment in 3G compared to Three; O2 had only 80% 3G coverage for a long time). EE is getting their freebie through early allowance of use of 1800MHz for LTE. As the 800MHz is the highly desirable frequency due to better range and building penetration, Three wants part of it reserved for the fourth operator, note not for itself but for a fourth operator. This at least gives them a chance to bid for it considering they are a lot smaller than the other players. Why should OFCOM consider such a thing? Because it might be in the best interests of consumers? A) Because ofcom feels four operators are needed to maintain sufficient competition in the marketplace. B) Who has proven more willing to invest in the network than Three? When everyone else has been cutting back to limited data, they've been rolling out the One Plan and all-you-can-eat data, they have wider 3G coverage than anyone, faster 3G than anyone and have innovated with other services like skype on feature phones, the facebook phone etc etc. Three is the kind of network a consumer would want to keep around in the UK. Well said and l completely agree. Am also a happy 3 customer

27-03-2012, 09:53	#8
wavejockglw Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 10,276	Quote: Originally Posted by TheBigM O2 and Vodafone have already received preferential treatment by getting to use 900MHz for 3G for free. O2 and Vodafone have been allowed to refarm 900Mhz for free but will soon have to renegotiate what they pay for this spectrum, so not exactly free!

27-03-2012, 09:55	#9
pinkteddyx64 Inactive Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: North Lincolnshire, UK Posts: 2,391	I wonder what Ofcom and 3 might have to say if they saw this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ41GJ059ys Would it persuade them to resolve their dispute over 4G and thus a large scale 4G roll out in the UK will be delayed no longer?

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3 may delay 4G LTE says CEO Dyson