Ofcom has announced plans to reallocate spectrum in the 700MHz frequency band — currently used by Freeview television services — to support the continued expansion of 4G mobile networks. Most viewers are unlikely to experience major disruption; in many cases they will simply need to retune their equipment to receive broadcasts in the adjacent 600MHz band.
“Enabling the 700MHz band to be used for mobile data will allow mobile networks to provide better performance at a lower cost, which will bring considerable benefits to citizens and consumers,” Ofcom said in a statement.
The 700MHz band is attractive to the regulator because lower-frequency signals travel further and penetrate buildings more effectively. In a 2012 spectrum auction, Ofcom sold licences in the 800MHz and 2.6GHz bands, and more recently it announced plans to auction the 2.3GHz and 3.4GHz bands to meet growing capacity needs and improve speeds — which, according to OpenSignal, have fallen significantly over the past year.
Ofcom’s moves aim to extend coverage and increase capacity simultaneously: lower-frequency spectrum helps reach rural areas, while additional mid-band capacity can serve dense urban zones that demand higher throughput. Freeview spectrum will not be reassigned before 2020, allowing time to inform the public and for broadcasters using the 700MHz band to relocate their services.
Ofcom added that its analysis indicates a reconfiguration of the digital terrestrial television (DTT) network within 470MHz–694MHz should be possible without materially affecting the coverage or channel selection viewers currently enjoy, if frequency planning is optimised.
The proposal follows industry analysis — including a report from Analysys Mason — forecasting that mobile data demand could grow dramatically over the coming years. Planning now for additional spectrum capacity is intended to ensure networks can accommodate this increase while maintaining service quality.
The proposal also comes amid political debate over government agencies: proposals from some parties to reduce the number of public bodies have put regulators like Ofcom in the spotlight. Spectrum auctions provide revenue for the Treasury as well as a mechanism to manage national communications resources, so Ofcom’s actions may be framed as both technical planning and fiscal contribution.
By reallocating the 700MHz band, Ofcom aims to strike a balance between preserving free-to-air television services and enabling mobile operators to expand long-range, high-quality 4G coverage. Viewers should prepare for a one-time retuning in affected areas, while operators and broadcasters will need to coordinate transitions to minimise disruption.
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