O2 4g 1800mhz and 2100mhz

[Anonymous]

Now I know that o2 use 2x10mhz of 800mhz band to deploy 4g and recently they have been refarming 2x5mhz of 1800mhz spectrum from 2g to 4g in some areas I was wondering if they could refarm 2100mhz spectrum for 4g as I have an iPhone 5 and o2 don't have much spectrum in the 1800mhz band for a good rollout but in 2100mhz they have 2x10mhz so are o2 planning to refarm 2100mhz spectrum from 3G over to 4g?

[MI5]

No way that we would know o2's plans but you can get 4g on 1800 on your 5 if you are in an area serviced by that frequency.

[Skyhawk1010]

They certainly are !

Leicester and Nottingham have already benefitted from this delivering a most welcome ‘spike’ in 4G coverage and capacity.

O2 have a very small 1800mHz presence essentially a legacy from the 2G days c 20 years ago. This  was implemented purely to improve network capacity in places like Leeds, Slough, Birmingham, Wolverhampton and London.Back then O2/BT Cellnet mainstay was 900mHz along with Vodafone whereas Orange and one2one (Remember them?) were on 1800mHz. 

O2 have refarmed all their 2G 1800mHz spectrum onto 4G now. They’re also refarming out as much spare 3G 2100mHz as they can. Biggest improvement will be as an when they acquire a chunk of 2300Mhz. When they get that and implement it on the network all the things like CA etc will be possible with them. 

[jonsie]

I think once again O2 will once again be also-rans in any bidding for that....

[Skyhawk1010]

I disagree.

Bandwidth is a major issue for O2 and their reputation will be damaged if they end up with 5Mhz , Three gets 15mHz and EE gets 20mHz for example.

O2 need to get at least 20mHz of 2300mHz to be credible. They simply cannot afford to end up as a an also-ran on this one. 

Without that they are going to struggle big time. 

[adamtemp64]

I will find the ofcom document in a minute but I believe EE are excluded from some of the auctions due to bandwidth dominance from mergers that were allowed unlike 3 and o2 merger 

ofcom acuction document https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/media/media-releases/2017/ofcom-sets-rules-for-mobile-sp...