Mapesbury Communications, the owner of a portion of 1800MHz GSM spectrum in the UK, is to launch a new mobile service called ‘UK01.’ The operator has partnered with Spectrum Interactive, a WI-Fi hotspot specialist, to broadcast its GSM service via Spectrum Interactive’s Wi-Fi-enabled payphone kiosks. UK01 will sell a SIM that will work on an unlocked handset in range of its network. “This agreement is an important milestone, as it accelerates our ability to launch the UK’s sixth mobile phone network,” said Mapesbury Communications CEO Magnus Kelly. The company said in a statement that it was aiming to become a “major mobile operator in the UK catering for specific targeted markets.”

The operator was awarded the spectrum by UK regulator Ofcom in an auction in 2006. The license uses 1781.7-1785MHz paired with 1876.7-1880MHz spectrum, which is compatible with most UK handsets, but the low-power restriction means it has limited range, requiring the user to stay close to the basestation.