Ofcom announces 4G phone operators

FOUR mobile phone firms have been granted permits by telecoms watchdog Ofcom to operate faster 4G networks.

The four new winners announced today were Hutchison 3G, a division of BT called Niche Spectrum, Telefonica O2 and Vodafone.

Existing 4G operator Everything Everywhere was also given expanded bandwith.

Ofcom said the purpose of the auction was to “promote strong competition in the 4G mobile market”.

MLL Telecom and HKT (UK) Company failed in their bids.

The auction has raised £2.34bn for the taxpayer. There was a reserve price on the auction of £1.36bn.

Britain’s last big mobile phone spectrum auction, for 3G services, raised more than £20bn.