L-Band fits between 1452 and 1492MHz, and Ofcom has decided to split the band into 16 small lots, each 1.7MHz wide , with one large block of 12.5MHz across in the upper band of 1479.5-1492 MHz .

Ofcom has not enforced specific technologies and applications for the frequencies being auctioned, but it is suitable for applications including satellite and terrestrial digital radio services, mobile TV and wireless broadband.

The auction is part of a much wider sell-off of around 400MHz of valuable spectrum by the regulator over the coming year.

The successful applicants also include mobile network operator O2, Arqiva, WorldSpace, Adolphus, Arqiva, ePortal, MLL Telecom, the Joint Radio Company, and Vectone Network.

The regulator expects to get a minimum of £50,000 per 1.7 MHz block and £150,000 for the 12.5 MHz block, bringing the total reserve amount to £950,000.

Qualcomm UK Spectrum Ltd, O2 and Arqiva would most likely use the frequencies for mobile TV. For Qualcomm, winning the spectrum would represent a major opportunity to introduce its own MediaFLO mobile TV standard to Europe, despite the EC recently making DVB-H the official European mobile TV standard.

O2 and Arqiva have both participated in a DVB-H trial in Oxford in 2006. Arqiva was also involved in an L-Band mobile TV trial in London from mid-2006 to early 2007.

Arquiva also runs most of the UK's broadcasting so will be planning to sublet the band to a broadcasters.

Some of the other bidders' intentions remain less certain. The Joint Radio Company runs spectrum for the UK energy industry, so will likely use some of the 1.7MHz bands for fixed links, while Vectone is an MVNO operator with operations in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

Meanwhile WorldSpace operates several satellites broadcasting radio around the world in the L-Band spectrum, and with a footprint that covers the UK. It has already acquired rights to the 12.5MHz wide block in Switzerland, Germany, and Italy.

MLL Telecom provides enterprise networks around the UK.

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