LONDON— Interest among British operators of mobile TV services in using the L-Band part of the spectrum should become clear in May as the communications regulator Ofcom begins auctioning the 1452-1492 MHz band next month.

The spectrum, which is available over much of Europe, will be released on a technology and service neutral basis, allowing users the flexibility to decide what technology to use, what services to offer and to change their use of the spectrum over time. All licenses will be tradable.

The 1452-1492 MHz band should be suitable for a range of services, including satellite radio and broadband wireless access, as well as mobile TV, and the auction is part of a much wider sell-off of around 400MHz of valuable spectrum by the regulator over the coming year.

This includes an auction of the frequencies that will be freed-up through the switch to digital television, and the 2.6 GHz band.

Ofcom said the provisional deadline for applications for the L-band auction is 10 April 2008, with the online auction likely to start at the end of April.

Technologies making use of the L-Band include the MediaFLO being promoted by Qualcomm Inc both in the U.S. and in Europe. It is also an essential part of the potential roll out of DAB/DAB+ and DMB services in Europe.

The favorite technology for a mobile TV service in the U.K, and throughout Europe, is the DVB-H format that the European Commission is contemplating mandating for member countries, much to the annoyance of and opposition from proponents of other technologies, including DAB based versions, that using the NextWave Wireless proposed TDtv specification or any using the L-Band.