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Mobile operator Vodafone has accused the telecoms watchdog Ofcom of "taking leave of its senses" following the regulator’s statement that it was "minded" to allow Eveywhere Everything to launch 4G services on the firm’s existing 3G spectrum.
Earlier this month Ofcom said it was minded to allow EE, operator of the T-Mobile and Orange brands, to repurpose 1800MHz spectrum ahead of the upcoming 4G spectrum auction. The move effectively allows T-Mobile and Orange to launch 4G services before rivals.
Much of the usual whinging was expected and Vodafone chief Guy Laurence didn’t disappoint in an interview featuring in The Sunday Times.
Laurence claimed that the move was effectively granting "the largest player in the market a head start" on next-gen 4G mobile internet.
Ofcom acknowledged that rival operators were likely to exhibit the usual array of hissy fits but Ofcom said that the watchdog had considered the trade off of "temporary or longer term distortion of competition" with the benefits of delivering 4G LTE services sooner rather than later.
