Ofcom announces mobile broadband improvements

Telecoms regulator Ofcom has announced it will be supporting schemes to improve mobile broadband connections in the UK, while also working to secure the future of digital television for the country.

Consumers will be able to access mobile broadband via the same frequencies in place for the delivery of digital terrestrial TV, which share the 700 MHz band.

It is hoped that combining these services will lead to cheaper mobile broadband technology being available for customers throughout the UK. However, Ofcom does not see these measures coming into play until the start of 2022, but the watchdog has said it could happen up to two years earlier.

Chief Executive of Ofcom Ed Richards commented: "This is a crucial next step in the development of the UK's communications infrastructure.

"More spectrum will be available for mobile broadband, where demand is especially high."

In fact, Ofcom predicts demand for data over this type of broadband could increase by up to 45 times by 2030.