UPDATE 2-Qualcomm buys UK spectrum, looking for partner

(Adds Qualcomm interview)

LONDON, May 16 (Reuters) - Wireless technology firm Qualcomm Inc (QCOM.O) has acquired radio spectrum in Britain known as L-band and is looking for a partner to launch services such as mobile television.

Andrew Gilbert, head of Qualcomm's European operations, said the U.S-based chip company would not set up an operator itself to run a mobile television broadcasting network as it has done in the United States.

"We are looking for partners. If people have good ideas ... we'd really like to hear them. I'm not looking at becoming an operator," Gilbert told Reuters in an interview.

"It's not my intention at all," he said.

Britain's media regulator Ofcom said Qualcomm UK Spectrum Ltd would pay 8.3 million pounds ($16.2 million) and be able to use the licence with immediate effect, across the UK.

The spectrum has been released on a technology and service neutral basis, meaning the user can decide what technology to use and what services to offer.

Qualcomm said it had acquired 40 MHz of L-band spectrum to bring a variety of wireless technologies to the UK market in collaboration with its partners.

"It gives us some great spectrum which we can really use for research and development," Gilbert said, adding there was no decision on the possible technologies or launch timing.

The airwaves would be suitable for Qualcomm's MediaFLO technology for mobile TV broadcasts -- which compete with European DVB-H technology, endorsed by the European Union. The EU has also been looking for the L-band as Europe-wide spectrum for DVB-H broadcasts.

Other bidders for the spectrum included Arqiva Limited and The Joint Radio Company. (Reporting by Kate Holton in London and Tarmo Virki in Helsinki; editing by Will Waterman and David Hulmes)