The UK is set to get 4G, the next generation mobile data networks, in 2013 at the earliest.The regulator, Ofcom, says the airwaves will be auctioned off in the first half of 2012 and will become available for use the following year.
The auction was originally scheduled for 2009, but has been delayed because of legal action from the current UK networks over the allocation of radio frequencies at the moment.
And Ofcom has warned that more legal action will delay the development to 4G even longer.
The explosion in the sales of smartphones using data-hungry apps means some of the current networks can't handle data demand all the time. 4G will offer faster data and will ensure networks can cope better with increased traffic.
The 3G network raised a total of £22bn for the Government when it was auctioned in 2000.
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