11 March 2025
Ofcom has proposed making part of the 1900MHz radio spectrum band available for use by both the UK’s rail network for 5G mobile and broadband services, as well as to enhance coverage for the 4G Emergency Services Network (ESN).
While major mobile network operators do utilize spectrum frequencies within this band, this announcement specifically pertains to a smaller 20MHz segment of unpaired spectrum that has remained unused. The 1900–1920MHz band was previously known as the ‘unpaired 2100MHz band.’
Mobile operators have largely avoided this section of the band due to concerns about deploying higher-power services in that frequency. The lack of an ecosystem, the necessity for a guard band to separate it from paired spectrum (which further limits the already constrained spectrum availability), and the limited bandwidth it provides are key factors in this hesitation.
