Asked by: David Mackintosh (Conservative - Northampton South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) value of unused mobile spectrum and (b) benefits to the economy of bringing that unused spectrum into use through introducing a 30 per cent cap on mobile spectrum holdings.
Answered by David Gauke
The independent communications regulator, Ofcom, is responsible for designing the framework for spectrum allocations. Ofcom has published its most recent assessment of the most effective allocation of mobile spectrum, including consideration of spectrum caps, as part of its consultation on the design of the forthcoming mobile spectrum auction. The relevant documents can be found using the following link: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-1/award-of-the-spectrum-bands.