Ofcom, the UK telecoms regulator, has given the go-ahead for mobile operators to use their 2G and 3G spectrum for 4G technologies, should they wish to do so, without having to go through a formal application process.

The regulator started the consultation for liberalising UK frequencies in February 2013 following a request by Vodafone and Hutchison 3G to remove the regulatory constraint on the use of LTE technology in the 900MHz, 1800MHz and 2100MHz frequency bands.

Although EE, a joint venture of France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom, was given an earlier dispensation to use its 1800MHz assets for LTE – it started commercial 4G services on 30 October 2012 – Ofcom has now fallen in line with EU directives calling for the liberalisation of all mobile spectrum for the latest technology.

Ofcom is also allowing an increase in the maximum permitted base station transmit power in the 900MHz frequency band for 3G and 4G networks.

The current 900MHz and 1800MHz licences held by Vodafone and Telefonica, originally licensed for 2G services, are already permitted to run 3G services – as are the 1800MHz assets of EE and H3G.

3G licences in the 2.1GHz frequency band can now also be used for 4G networks according to Ofcom’s recommendations.

As part of its consultation process, Ofcom weighed the potential impact on competition of varying the 900MHz and 1800MHz licences, and the potential impact of varying the 2100MHz licences.

In a statement, the regulator said that, in both cases, “the benefits to consumers of permitting 4G deployment were likely to outweigh any potential detriment that might, in principle, arise from distortions to competition”.