By Peter Purton

A startup has already taken key ground in the battle for wireless metropolitan networks that a forthcoming series of spectrum auctions is expected to unleash in the United Kingdom.

United Kingdom

The aim of London-based Macropolitan is to offer new and existing wireless operators in the U.K. faster, cheaper, and easier access to the aerial sites on which the winners of those auctions businesses will be based.

U.K.

U.K. telecommunications regulator Ofcom plans to auction 400 megahertz of spectrum under 3 gigahertz over the next three years. Just this year, seven auctions are planned for spectrum that can be used for services such as private mobile radio, wireless broadband, digital broadcasting, 3G (third generation) mobile, and WiMAX.

In a crafty move, Macropolitan, headed by CEO Ryan Jarvis, former chief of wireless broadband at British Telecom, and Chairman Richard Greco, former chief executive of the broadband Internet access provider Bulldog, says it has obtained exclusive telecommunications rights to 7,600 properties across all the major urban areas.

“We can be a one-stop shop for every city in the U.K.,” Mr. Jarvis told Red Herring.

Red Herring

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He noted that wireless operators have a difficult time finding sites for aerials in the cities. Only about one in three deals ever get concluded. On top of that, he added, “legal fees are colossal and you cannot even plan your network properly until all the deals are done.”

In addition to offering services to WiMAX operators, the company also hopes to find customers for Wi-Fi, digital radio, mobile phone, and mobile television services.

Founded in May of last year, Macropolitan has received funding from property investor Vincent Tchenguiz, investment banker Miller Buckfire and Harpal Randhawa’s New York-based private investment group Global Emerging Markets. Mr. Jarvis would not disclose the exact amount, but he hopes to turn a profit before the end of next year.