User Acceptance and Accuracy Testing for Electronic Clock Auction System

Ofcom has a requirement for testing of an electronic auction system (EAS) designed to run an auction for the award licences of mmWave spectrum in the UK in the 26 GHz and 40 GHz bands. The specific service required is user acceptance testing of the user interfaces and establishing that the EAS accurately implements the auction rules. For simplicity, we refer to this testing as “EAS testing”. These requirements will also cover the possibility of an additional clock auction that will follow the 26 GHz/40 GHz auction, which would be triggered at Ofcom’s sole discretion, using the same EAS configured for the subsequent auction.

As a minimum, the service must deliver the following:

• User acceptance and functional testing on auctioneer, bidder, and monitor interfaces in line with the detailed software spec
• Testing on the accuracy of implementation on the proposed auction rules, initially in line with published illustrative auction procedures, and ultimately to reflect formal Auction Regulations.

The EAS will be a web-based application for both Ofcom and bidders. It is envisaged that the successful tenderer will carry out the testing by accessing the EAS over the internet from its own premises.