The chip group's subsidiary, Qualcomm UK Spectrum Ltd, paid £8.34 million (about $16 million) for the spectrum according to Ofcom.

Late last month, when it kicked off the auction for the L-band — part of a much wider sell-off of around 400MHz of valuable spectrum by the regulator over the coming year — Ofcom indicated it expected to get a minimum of £50,000 per 1.7 MHz block and £150,000 for the 12.5 MHz block, bringing the total reserve amount to £950,000.

Though both Qualcomm and Ofcom stress the spectrum acquired is technology neutral and could be used for wireless broadband or satellite radio, the most likely scenario is that it will be used for a MediaFlo based mobile TV service.

Qualcomm developed the MediaFlo technology and is already using it for delivering content to mobile phones in the U.S in partnership with Verizon and AT&T, and it has already been tested in the U.K. with partners including pay TV provider BSkyB.

The on-line auction was held earlier this month and also included mobile phone operator O2, Arqiva Limited and The Joint Radio Company, amongst others.

"Qualcomm has a long history of innovation and creating new technology markets," said Andrew Gilbert, executive vice president of Qualcomm. "Acquiring this spectrum will enable us to develop, test and explore a variety of innovative wireless services and technologies that will benefit European consumers and the wireless industry as a whole."

By: DocMemory
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