Spectrum

By This Is Money
Updated: 12:55 BST, 18 April 2008

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We 述べる the 概念 behind 'the spectrum' and the selling of our nation's airwaves.

What is it?

Not the 革命の Sinclair computer with the squidgy keyboard. This spectrum 言及するs to airwaves that carry 無線で通信する, TV and 動きやすい phone signals.

The switch to 数字表示式の TV will 解放する／自由な up big chunks of the airwaves, which マスコミ regulator Ofcom will begin selling off in 早期に 2009.

A good money spinner?

Probably not. During the heady days of the dotcom にわか景気, the 政府 raked in £22bn from 動きやすい phone 会社／堅いs eager to build ultra-急速な／放蕩な 3G 網状組織s.

A 抱擁する sum for thin 空気／公表する. 会社／堅いs have had a reality check since then, so this time the proceeds could 落ちる below a billion.

What's in the 空気／公表する now?

Tesco has dubbed the planned shake-up of the airwaves a 'regulatory diktat', which 脅すs its 動きやすい phone 共同の 投機・賭ける with O2. That's because Ofcom 計画（する）s to take 支援する some of the spectrum 現在／一般に used to carry Tesco's no-frills service.

Will Tesco 後継する?

Not very likely.

Ofcom appears 毅然とした that the Tesco spectrum could be used more efficiently, for example to 供給する wireless broadband in 田舎の areas. And there probably won't be much sympathy for Tesco at Ofcom. The retailer has 繰り返して criticised 競争相手s for crying foul to 競争 regulators over its High Street 策略.