Ofcom Sets £5M Reserve for 25 MHz Auction as CelcomDigi Pays RM381.75M

Ofcom will auction 25 MHz of mobile spectrum in the 1492–1517 MHz band with a reserve price of just £5 million, according to final auction documentation published on October 30 — a sum smaller than what many operators spend on a single urban network upgrade.

The UK regulator will offer one nationwide licence, requiring an initial bidder deposit of £1 million. Applications are expected to open in mid-January 2027, with the award process targeted for completion before the end of February that year.

The licence runs for an indefinite duration, with the auction payment covering only its first 20 years. Ofcom says the band can support additional 4G and 5G capacity, particularly where indoor coverage needs improvement. Two caveats matter here: the auction has not yet opened, and no winning operator has been selected. The paperwork sets the starting gun, not the finish line.

Malaysia: CelcomDigi locks in 50 MHz for RM381.75 million

CelcomDigi confirmed on October 30 that Malaysia's communications regulator has formally issued spectrum assignments covering 2×20 MHz in the 2600 MHz band and 2×5 MHz in the 900 MHz band — a combined 50 MHz of paired spectrum.

The upfront fees total RM381.75 million, split between RM366.75 million for 2600 MHz and RM15 million for 900 MHz. The 2600 MHz assignment runs from November 1, 2026 to October 31, 2030; the 900 MHz assignment extends to October 31, 2031. On top of the upfront payment, CelcomDigi will pay RM42 million annually for the 2600 MHz holdings.

The formal issuance marks a regulatory milestone rather than a new commercial decision — it follows the operator's earlier acceptance of the award.

Germany: Deutsche Telekom and VW wrap two-year 5G edge trial

Deutsche Telekom and Volkswagen announced on October 28 the completion of a two-year automated vehicle logistics project at the Port of Emden, Germany. The AutoLog initiative also involved Finnish technology company Unikie and the Bremen Institute for Production and Logistics.

The system ran on Deutsche Telekom's public 5G network, edge computing and fiber connectivity to coordinate driverless vehicle movements, with testing focused on automated and manually driven vehicles sharing real logistics environments. Unikie's Marshalling Solution handled vehicle coordination, while local edge processing supported time-sensitive communications.

The partners also tested automated vehicle loading onto railcars at Audi's Ingolstadt facility. What the announcement does not contain is any commercial deployment commitment — the pilot phase has concluded, and nothing beyond that has been pledged.

India: Jammu and Kashmir orders faster right-of-way clearances

The Jammu and Kashmir government issued new directions on October 30 to accelerate telecom infrastructure approvals across the Union Territory. Government Order 1699-JK(GAD) of 2026 requires public authorities to apply the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and Right of Way Rules, 2024 consistently.

The directions cover fiber networks, mobile towers, 5G infrastructure and BharatNet installations. Specifically, the order requires that:

• Departments process applications within prescribed timelines
• Authorities cannot impose unauthorized charges or additional conditions
• Government buildings and Gram Panchayat premises may host approved telecom equipment
• Shared ducts, utility infrastructure and access are facilitated for BSNL and BharatNet project agencies

The order establishes administrative measures only. It announces no specific construction contract and carries no investment value — its effect will show up, if at all, in clearance speeds rather than budgets.

Taken together, the week's moves show regulators and operators doing groundwork: Ofcom's auction opens in mid-January 2027, CelcomDigi's 2600 MHz term begins November 1, 2026, and the Emden partners will decide whether their pilot becomes a product.