6:00 AM -- U.K. mobile operators are threatening to take legal action against regulator Ofcom to delay this summer's 2.6GHz spectrum auction, reports The Guardian. (See UK Operators Brace for Spectrum Struggle, Ofcom Denies Spectrum Bundling , Brits Kickstart Broadband Spectrum Offer, and UK WiMax Faces Spectrum Fight.)

The operators are up in arms about comments Ofcom CEO Ed Richards made last week about having to reopen the consultation on spectrum refarming -– that is, allowing operators to use their 900MHz spectrum for 3G UMTS services. This issue was supposed to be resolved before the 2.6GHz auction.

Operators argue, according to the report, that they cannot know how much 2.6GHz spectrum they will need if they do not know exactly how they will be allowed to use their 900MHz spectrum.

Ofcom's refarming proposal involves taking back some of Telefónica UK Ltd. 's and Vodafone UK 's 900MHz spectrum so that it can be re-auctioned for other operators to use.

— Michelle Donegan, European Editor, Unstrung