UK mobile auction sees surprise bid from SoftBank - report

The Japanese giant SoftBank has reportedly backed a bid to create a new mobile network in the UK through Ofcom’s auction of airwaves for 5G networks.

The Japanese giant, which owns a telecoms arm and a big stake in Uber, is among investors in Airspan Spectrum Holdings Limited, one of the six participants that have had their bids approved by the UK regulator.

The other shareholders of the group are US wireless equipment maker Airspan and Oak Investment Partners, a Connecticut-based private equity firm, the Telegraph reported.

Lately, the Japanese colossus has become a frequent bidder for tech assets around the world, with its 2016 takeover of UK microchip designer ARM for £24bn, and it involvements with Uber, Boston Dynamics and British start-up Improbable.

SoftBank is also apparently mulling a flotation of 30% of its mobile phone business, SoftBank Corporation, in Tokyo and overseas, possibly in the autumn.

Airspan Spectrum Holdings will have to go up against five mobile operator:Connexin Ltd, Hutchison 3G UK Ltd, Telefónica UK Ltd, and Vodafone Ltd.

There was speculation in the press that Airspan could buy radio spectrum to help it serve niche but growing markets like public safety and transport networks.

Airspan is also targeting demand among operators for so-called small cells, scaled down mobile masts which are expected to play a bigger role in 5G networks to help boost signals and capacity. Ownership of radio spectrum could help it connect them, a source said.

The stakes will be high in Ofcom’s auction regardless of SoftBank’s involvement.

“We’re pressing ahead with the auction to make these airwaves available as quickly as possible,” said Philip Marnick, Ofcom’s spectrum group director.

“This will benefit today’s mobile users by providing more capacity for mobile broadband use. It will also pave the way for 5G, allowing operators to launch the next generation of mobile technology,” he added.

Ofcom is expected to publish a final list of bidders in the coming weeks.