Content Officer

Telecoms giant British Telecom (BT) may soon file a plea for a judicial review of the UK government’s plan to extend the existing 3G licences of mobile operators indefinitely. The company wants that entire spectrum to be auctioned since it believes the present plan is unfair.

In a letter written to the Business Secretary, BT expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed scheme. Although, the government believes the extension of the 3G licences will help to realise the dream of a ‘Digital Britain’ where all households in the country will have access to broadband, BT dubbed the present proposal as a billion pound gift from taxpayers to mobile operators.

The government entered into an agreement with the five mobile operators after much bickering over issues like ownership and the best use of broadcast spectrum. The licenses of all these companies were about to expire in 2012, but the deal saw them receiving an unspecified extension on the terms that they would provide more comprehensive broadband services. These 3G licences had been bought in 2000 for a massive £22.5billion.

And now BT has alleged that the government has indulged in unjust practises. A BT spokesperson said the company was calling for an auction of the entire spectrum since this was the only way to ensure a level playing field for existing mobile operators as well any new competitors in the broadband market. The representative also disclosed that BT was taking to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and was hopeful for a solution, which would address the issues raised by it.

Despite the BIS having shifted the last date for talks on the project to February 5, industry watchers say this would not give the government enough time to move in legislation because of the impending general elections.

For more information on 3G internet, or the mobile broadband providers, look at mobile.broadbandgenie.co.uk. There is useful information on pay and go mobile broadband; it is worth a look at the website for and their comparative table of broadband UK providers, which includes an analysis of their products and services.