UK regulator Ofcom has confirmed that it is to push back its 2.6GHz mobile broadband spectrum auction due to the ongoing legal challenges from O2 UK and T-Mobile UK, reports Mobile Today. In a statement Ofcom said that “litigation is currently ongoing and we continue to press for it to be progressed as expeditiously as possible. In the meantime, we have decided that we will not call for applications in September or October 2008.” Applications were originally scheduled to be invited in July with the actual auction due to take place in September.

Both operators are understood to be seeking legal advice over Ofcom’s decision to go ahead with the auction before it has finalised its policy on spectrum refarming. The operators believe they are unable to accurately value the 2.6GHz spectrum until they know how much, if any, of the 900MHz spectrum they will be allowed to use for 3G services. In April, Ofcom revealed it was to rethink its plan to repurpose certain 2G spectrum for new high-speed 3G services, known as spectrum refarming, after receiving higher than expected interest in the airwaves.