Regulation

UK regulator Ofcom today said that it will begin the auction for spectrum freed up by the digital switchover in the summer of 2009, reports Forbes. The development is part of its ongoing review of the move away from analogue broadcasting to digital services, due to be completed by 2012.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has postponed a vote on a plan to auction a new piece of wireless spectrum to give the regulator more time to consider concerns raised by some US mobile operators, reports Reuters.

French regulator Arcep has launched a new public consultation on issuing a fourth 3G license in the 2.1GHz band. The government last year rejected an offer from ISP Free for the license, saying its bid was too low.

Mexico's anti-trust body, the Federal Competition Commission (FCC), is considering imposing new pricing regulations on the country's mobile operators.

Mapesbury Communications, the owner of a portion of 1800MHz GSM spectrum in the UK, is to launch a new mobile service called 'UK01.'

Unstrung reports that French regulator ARCEP is cracking down on 3.5GHz WiMAX license holders in the country and has warned operators that if they have not met their rollout obligations, they could have their licenses suspended or pay fines of up to 3 percent of their revenues.

RCR Wireless News reports it appears increasingly doubtful that US regulator the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will re-auction its D-Block spectrum this year.