To support efficient use of the 3.8 – 4.2 GHz band and continued growth in innovative wireless applications, this document sets out our decisions to vary UK Broadband’s 3.9 GHz licence and make associated updates to our coordination processes.
The 3.9 GHz licence (authorising use of 3925 – 4009 MHz) is held by UK Broadband Limited which is owned by Hutchison 3G UK Limited (H3G), now part of VodafoneThree. This licence sits within the 3.8 – 4.2 GHz band which is shared on a first-come-first-served basis with Fixed Links, Satellite Earth Stations and Shared Access users which support a broad array of localised wireless networks.
The decisions we are confirming today, to vary the 3.9 GHz licence and update our technical coordination processes, follow our consideration of responses to consultations in May and December 2024, and the evolving wider context for the 3.8 – 4.2 GHz band.
The decisions will support more efficient use of the 3.9 GHz licence by enabling use of 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) technology and will increase the total amount of usable spectrum for Shared Access users in the 3.8 – 4.2 GHz band, complementing other improvements to spectrum access for Shared Access users that we recently introduced. They will also further our objectives of promoting innovation and competition by enabling growth in a wide range of wireless applications, including 5G FWA, private networks for a variety of industry players, and wireless cameras at major events.