Wider coverage around local communities
Under comparable conditions, lower-frequency mobile signals can reach further than higher-frequency signals. That could help local networks extend towards villages, farms and connecting roads. [1]
Free the Spectrum: 600 MHz
Give local networks the spectrum to reach further.
Lodestar Networks is calling for coordinated LTE Band 71 trials around Coventry and a licensing framework that gives regional and local networks a direct route to 600 MHz spectrum.
We want to test whether this could help local operators extend coverage into surrounding communities and improve reception inside homes and workplaces. Any trial would need Ofcom authorisation and protection for existing spectrum users. [1] [4]
Why 600 MHz could make a difference
Low-band spectrum could help local networks cover more useful ground.
Better reception inside buildings
Low-band spectrum can also improve indoor reception compared with higher bands. Building materials, terrain, interference and the installation still matter, so coverage at any particular property would need testing. [1]
More viable local deployments
Reaching a given area with fewer sites could reduce deployment costs and make smaller communities more practical to serve. The campaign's aim is to turn that opportunity into wider coverage and affordable services, not to promise a specific saving. [1]
More choice for residents and businesses
We want local operators to have a practical way to respond to the needs of the communities they serve. Direct access to regional licences could give more networks the opportunity to build, rather than leaving local projects dependent on a national spectrum holder's permission.
Wider coverage would not mean unlimited capacity. The trial would examine coverage and performance with a small allocation. Additional spectrum or sites could still be needed in busy areas. Participating equipment and devices would need verified LTE Band 71 support.
The licensing change we are asking for
Regional licences designed to preserve independent local access.
These are Lodestar's proposed policy changes. They are not rules Ofcom has already adopted.
We propose that any Band 71 spectrum opened for this mobile framework should be licensed through defined regional and local areas, rather than national awards. Major mobile operator groups should be prohibited from assembling equivalent nationwide control through connected companies, acquisitions, leasing arrangements or aggregated regional holdings.
The rules should address beneficial ownership and effective control. This is not a blanket objection to every regional application involving a major operator, but a demand that no group can recreate national control by combining regional holdings.
This is not simply a request for national operators to lend local networks spare spectrum. Independent operators should be able to apply directly to Ofcom under clear and proportionate rules.
The framework should provide terms that support investment, with transparent coordination requirements and fees that reflect the work involved. Operators should have to deploy within agreed milestones, with unused rights recoverable through a fair process so that spectrum is not held indefinitely without serving communities.
We also want the rules to allow genuinely independent regional networks to cooperate without surrendering control of their spectrum. Any future interconnection or roaming arrangement would not, by itself, transfer spectrum ownership. The purpose is to widen participation and local choice, not reserve an advantage exclusively for Lodestar.
A controlled starting point around Coventry
Measure first, then decide what is workable.
We want Ofcom to assess a small number of defined sites in Coventry and surrounding areas as potential locations for LTE Band 71 testing. The first stage should involve a limited operating area and controlled devices, with the scope agreed before any transmission begins.
The work should measure practical coverage, indoor reception, performance under load and compatibility with existing spectrum use. It should examine interference in both directions, including whether incumbent transmissions prevent the mobile system from operating reliably.
A successful trial could provide evidence for regional access, but it would not establish that the whole of Coventry, Warwickshire or the West Midlands can use the same frequencies. Site selection and wider coordination would remain necessary.
Candidate frequencies for assessment
An illustrative 2 × 5 MHz study configuration.
LTE Band 71 uses paired spectrum: one channel carries the signal from the base station to the device, and another carries the return signal. Its standard operating ranges are 617 to 652 MHz downlink and 663 to 698 MHz uplink. These technical ranges do not establish permission to operate in the UK. [2] [4]
Our initial study proposal is one 5 MHz channel in each direction:
| Direction | Candidate nominal channel edges | Carrier centre |
|---|---|---|
| Downlink, from base station to device | 632.5 to 637.5 MHz | 635.0 MHz |
| Uplink, from device to base station | 678.5 to 683.5 MHz | 681.0 MHz |
This is 2 × 5 MHz, not one unpaired 10 MHz channel. The proposed carrier centres are 46 MHz apart. These figures are the campaign's illustrative study configuration within Band 71, not an assignment published by Ofcom. [2]
Protecting television and production users
Existing services come first in any assessment.
Relevant UHF spectrum already supports terrestrial television and production equipment, including wireless microphones and in-ear monitors. Availability for production users varies by location and is coordinated against other uses. A locally quiet television channel is not proof that the spectrum is unused. [3]
Our proposal is to investigate whether carefully limited mobile use can coexist with those services. It is not a request to switch off Freeview or displace production users without a proper assessment.
Any trial should have agreed site and power limits, a controlled device-operating area, monitoring, a named interference contact and a rapid shutdown process. It should also account for temporary events and changing production requirements.
Ofcom's existing innovation and trial route is subject to availability and coordination. Its published guidance describes temporary trials rather than a guaranteed route to commercial service, with non-interference and non-protected operation. The licence and any applicable updated rules would determine what an actual trial may do. [4] [5]
How this fits with Free the Spectrum
A separate low-band proposal within the wider campaign.
Questions about the proposal
What this page does and does not mean.
Is this a service I can order?
This page describes a campaign and proposed assessment, not an available 600 MHz service. It does not open orders or guarantee that a trial will be authorised. See Lodestar Mobile for current product information.
Would my current phone work?
Do not assume compatibility from a phone's 4G or 5G branding. We would need to verify LTE Band 71 support and test the exact device configuration before including it in a trial. This proposal makes no promise that all current UK handsets will work.
Are you asking for unlicensed transmission?
No. We are asking for coordinated authorisation. No trial transmission should take place without permission covering the frequencies, equipment and intended operation. [5]
Does the proposal require Freeview to close?
No. Our immediate request is to assess a bounded trial while protecting existing services, not to close terrestrial television. Any broader change to spectrum use would need its own decisions and assessment.
What would happen after a successful trial?
We want useful results to inform a durable regional licensing framework. A trial licence does not guarantee later operational access, so testing would not promise a permanent service. [4]
Get involved
Help shape a responsible local trial.
Residents, businesses, community organisations and potential site hosts around Coventry can help us understand where local coverage matters and what a useful trial should investigate. We also welcome discussion with spectrum engineers, broadcasters and production users about the practical conditions for coexistence.
To discuss a potential location or contribute relevant evidence, contact Lodestar using the link below. An enquiry is not a trial application, a reservation or a guarantee of installation.
#FreeTheSpectrum is about creating a fair, coordinated route for local networks to serve their communities.
Contact Lodestar about the 600 MHz proposal
Return to the main campaign
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https://lodestarnetworks.co.uk/free-the-spectrum/600mhz/
Campaign disclosure
This campaign is run by Lodestar Networks Ltd and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Ofcom. The technical configuration is a proposal for assessment, not an authorisation to transmit.
Sources and evidence
Technical background, with the proposal kept distinct.
External sources support the technical and regulatory background. The Coventry configuration and regional-only licensing framework are Lodestar's proposals. None of these external sources endorses the campaign or confirms that the candidate frequencies are available at a site.
Sources reviewed 12 September 2026.
- Potential low-band coverage and deployment benefits Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology; research by Analysys Mason and DotEcon, published 23 June 2026. Future of TV distribution: Assessing the value and alternative uses of DTT spectrum for the future of UK TV distribution
- LTE Band 71 frequency arrangement ETSI / 3GPP, April 2022. See Table 5.5-1 and section 5.7. ETSI TS 136 104 V17.5.0, LTE base-station radio transmission and reception
- Incumbent UHF and production use Ofcom. See paragraphs 3.22 to 3.25. The consultation has closed and is cited as technical background. Sector Spectrum Review: Programme Making and Special Events, updated call for input
- Trial access and its limitations Ofcom. Innovation and trial licensing
- Trial licence guidance Ofcom. Innovation and Trial licensing: Guidance notes for applicants
- Existing campaign and contact Lodestar Networks Ltd. Free the Spectrum
- Existing submitted response Lodestar Networks Ltd. Lodestar's response to Ofcom on spectrum innovation