HC Deb 13 December 2000 vol 359 c135W
Mr. Duncan

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when further licences for the provision of broadband fixed wireless access at 40 GHz will be awarded by auction. [141662]

Ms Hewitt

We will be consulting industry on a range of options for awarding broadband fixed wireless access licences at 40 GHz. We have not yet decided what method should be used for awarding licences.

Mr. Duncan

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reasons underlay the decision to award by auction licences for the provision of broadband fixed wireless access at 28 GHz. [141660]

Ms Hewitt

In choosing an auction the overriding consideration was that well designed auctions place spectrum in the hands of those who value it most and are likely to develop it most effectively, generating the greatest long-term benefit for UK consumers and the national economy.

Mr. Duncan

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the reasons for the outcome of the auction for licences for broadband fixed wireless access at 28 GHz; what contingency plans were in place for such an outcome; and how he intends to award the remaining licences. [141661]

Ms Hewitt

I have asked the Radiocommunications Agency for a report on the outcome of the auction and they will be reporting back to me shortly. It is a feature of spectrum auctions that some licences may remain unsold. I will be reviewing whether unsold licences should be awarded at a later date in the light of the Agency's report, which will explore ways of awarding licences in those regions where licences remained unsold.

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