Macropolitan prepares for radio spectrum auction

London-based Macropolitan, which provides wireless network operators with access to rooftop aerials, has obtained exclusive telecommunications rights to 7,600 properties across all the major urban areas.

This will place it in prime position to benefit from regulator Ofcom’s plans to auction 400 megahertz of spectrum under 3 gigahertz over the next three years. The spectrum can be used for a range of telecoms services including private mobile radio, wireless broadband, digital broadcasting, 3G mobile, and WiMAX.

Macropolitan addresses the problem that wireless operators have in finding sites for aerials in the cities, a process that can be lengthy and incur probative legal fees.

The company plans to partner with the winners of the auctions, providing network operators with access to its sites via a single contract.

Macropolitan also partners with property owners, such as Travelodge and David Lloyd Leisure, providing them with new revenue streams

Macropolitan was founded in May 2006, after securing funding from property investor Vincent Tchenguiz, investment banker Miller Buckfire and Harpal Randhawa’s New York-based private investment group Global Emerging Markets.