Ofcom has announced proposals to open up the radio spectrum bands used by mobile phone operators, allowing them to launch new services and technologies and promote competition in the industry.

The watchdog said that there are nearly 70 million active mobile subscriptions in the UK, and that the increasing number of people using their mobile to access the internet requires a better range of services from operators.

The proposals for consultation (PDF) are designed to allow more efficient use of the spectrum that underpins all mobile services.

Ofcom expects to create more flexibility and wider access to the spectrum leading to improved rural coverage, faster data speeds and lower prices.

"We cannot see it, touch it or hear it, but radio spectrum is central to our lives and we are using mobile devices more than ever before," said Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards.

"Our proposals are designed to make more spectrum available for high-speed mobile broadband services across the whole of the UK, and to ensure that the UK mobile market continues to be one of the most competitive and innovative in the world."

The consultation covers the spectrum used by most of the UK's mobile operators for their 2G networks, which support voice calls, text messaging and low-speed internet services.

Ofcom proposes to liberalise the use of this spectrum by removing the restrictions on 2G.

This will be required by a forthcoming European Commission directive which states that 2G spectrum should be freed up for a much wider range of uses, including high-speed mobile broadband services using 3G.

Ofcom hopes to award those parts of the spectrum that are released by 2009, probably using an auction process. The winners will potentially be able to use the spectrum from 2010.