Mobile operators combine efforts to prevent 4G services interfering with Freeview

The UK's telecoms regulator Ofcom said that Everything Everywhere (EE), Telefónica O2, Three and Vodafone had formed Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited (DMSL) earlier than originally scheduled.

The new company will "be responsible for ensuring that consumers continue to receive clear Freeview TV signals following the roll out of 4G mobile services in the 800 MHz spectrum band from the Spring of next year," Ofcom said.

"Creating the company now will further accelerate the rollout of competitive 4G services next year," the regulator said in a statement. "It will be funded by the successful bidders for 800MHz spectrum in the forthcoming auction and provisions exist to make sure that if any other party acquires some of this spectrum in the auction they can immediately become a shareholder in the company."

Ofcom is due to auction off the spectrum to be used for new 4G services before the end of year. The spectrum, in the 800MHz and 2.6GHz bands, is a combination of high and low frequencies which Ofcom has claimed will enable operators to offer widespread mobile coverage at faster speeds. The auction process was announced in a bid to satisfy infrastructure requirements needed to support the growth in mobile internet access and a drive towards faster networks.

The term '4G' is generally used to refer to mobile broadband services delivered using the next generation of mobile broadband technologies; including Long Term Evolution (LTE) and WiMAX. LTE technical standards make more efficient use of radio spectrum, which makes them ideally suited for the high bandwidth data services including video streaming, social networking and GPS and mapping services used by smartphones and laptops.

Mobile phone companies were first awarded varying amounts of spectrum at 900MHz and 1,800MHz in the 1990s on the condition that this could only be used for 2G services, mainly voice calls and text messages. In 2011, Ofcom ruled that this could also be used for 3G services as part of its plans to "liberalise" spectrum use for the benefit of consumers.

Earlier this year Ofcom granted EE the right to use its existing network to deliver 4G services to its customers. This led to complaints from rival networks that this would provide EE with a competitive advantage in the market since Ofcom's plans to auction off additional spectrum was previously not due until next year.

However, industry talks on the issue subsequently dispelled the threat of legal action by some of EE's rivals.

Ofcom said that the potential for problems in Freeview TV interference in the provision of 4G services, which DMSL is tasked with alleviating, was restricted to the 800MHz frequency band only.

"I am pleased that the mobile operators will be working together to ensure that no viewers lose their television services when 4G is rolled out, and congratulate them on setting up the assistance scheme so quickly," Culture Secretary Maria Miller said.

Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards also hailed the development, saying that it provided "further evidence of the progress that is being made by the industry ... to deliver 4G mobile services across the UK."

"The 4G auction is already on track to begin at the end of the year and the creation of Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited ahead of time represents yet another step towards bringing consumers early access to the next generation of mobile broadband services," Richards said.

DMSL's interim chairman Andrew Pinder described the formation of the joint company as a "real milestone" ahead of the launch of 4G services next year.