3 UK, the smallest mobile network operator in the UK, has had talks with EE about pooling the two companies’ respective 800MHz assets, revealed chief executive David Dyson (pictured) in a briefing this week.

In the UK’s 4G auction, which was completed in February, 3 UK and EE each acquired 2x5MHz in the 800MHz frequency band. The two have talked about combining this spectrum, according to several reports of the briefing.

Vodafone and Telefonica-owned O2, however, each bid successfully for 2x10MHz of 800MHz. So-called digital dividend spectrum is better suited for in-building penetration than higher frequencies.

3 UK already has 2x15MHz of 1800MHz spectrum, slated for 4G, which it acquired from EE last year for an undisclosed sum.

Ofcom, the UK regulator, had ruled that EE would need to give up some of its 1800MHz assets if the merger between the UK operations of France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom, which now forms EE, was to go ahead.

Any pooling of 800MHz spectrum between 3 UK and EE, however, would need approval from Ofcom.

Dyson further indicated that 3 UK’s 4G launch, originally scheduled for the end of the year, might be pushed forward by a few months.

Under the terms of its spectrum acquisition from EE, 3 UK can start using 1800MHz for commercial 4G services from September 2013.