What questions can the Data Explorer help us answer?

Click the prices in mobile awards icon on the National data overview page. The graph below shows the result for Thailand.

Click the upcoming awards icon on the National data overview page. This page (also shown below) shows expected auctions in Sri Lanka as of February 2024. You can also search our Auctions tracker.

On the Spectrum Awards Price Comparison page you can filter down to a limited number of countries or bands. The example below shows prices for 700 MHz countries in Norway, Sweden and Finland. (Please also select 700 MHz in the table)

The Spectrum Awards Price Comparison page shows that the amounts paid for 2.1 GHz in the 3G auctions held in Germany and the UK in 2000 are still the most expensive in USD/MHz/pop terms. (On the page sort the table by band award average)

By the total spent, the Spectrum Awards Price Comparison page shows that the US 2023 C-band auction was more expensive than the 2000 3G auctions. (Sort by total spent on band)

The Global Bands Overview page shows the number of licences issued in each region (second to last graph on page). For eaxmple, the graph below shows that although 1900 MHz is generally used in ITU Region 2, it has occassionally been licensed in Africa, Asia Pacific and Europe.

See Connectivity page: the answer is different for low, mid or high band spectrum. Japan has the most mid-band, as shown below (Use table at bottom of Connectivity page to sort by mid-band holdings)

The Connectivity page shows the amount of spectrum above 6 GHz assigned in each country. The top 10 are shown below. (Produced by sorting the high band spectrum column in the table)

Click the mobile spectrum holdings icon on the National data overview page. The example below shows the proportionate holdings in Bangladesh.

On the Compare MNO’s national spectrum holdings page you can select four countries and see how much spectrum the operators hold in the low, mid and high bands.

The Compare national mobile spectrum markets page shows our Spectrum Distribution Index where 0 indicates an equal of spectrum in the sub-3 GHz range.

The Compare national mobile spectrum markets page shows the number of mobile licensees. This can be filtered and/or sorted.

Click the population icon for the chosen country on the National data overview page. The information is presented in graphs and and in a table, as shown below for Iran.

Hong Kong has over 300 mobile subscribers per 100 people, as shown below. But this can indicate high prices for calling people on other networks. The graph was produced by sorting the mobile subscribers column in the table on the Connectivity page.

Here the Data Explorer can provide some useful insights, but considering that it uses raw, unadjusted data, probably not the definitive answer. The Connectivity page can display the countries with the largest percentage of the population living in rural areas, but as some of these are small nations, the graphs below have been filtered to include only the larger nations. They show that some of the countries with large rural populations – like Afghanistan and Tanzania – have low internet penetration of less than 22%; whereas in Finland and Oman it is above 90%

Data about population, population density and land mass are all available on the Population page. This gives a greater level of detail than on the other pages, including the percentage of the country’s land mass which is classified as urban/rural etc. Macau has the world’s highest population density as shown below and here.

Click the regulatory activity icon for the chosen country on the National data overview page. This shows recent consultations, upcoming awards and spectrum policy issues covered in PolicyTracker articles. The table below shows activity for Lithuania.

This can be done on the National Economic Indicators page by selecting the desired countries in the table. This example compares Poland and Chile, and one of the resulting graphs is shown below.

Click the economic indicators icon for the chosen country on the National data overview page. This also shows world ranking and ICT import and export data, as shown below for Lithuania. The figures can be compared for other countries.

The National Economic Indicators page shows GDP figures as well as ICT exports and imports, giving an indication of a country’s overall economic standing, as well as its position in the digital economy. For example, the chart below compares South Africa and the Philippines with the World’s three biggest economies, showing that while the two countries have similar GDPs, the Philippines is a world leader in ICT manufacturing.

The Benchmark across sectors page shows eight graphs covering population, economics, connectivity and spectrum assignments. This example compares Egypt with the top five economies, and shows that its GDP is much smaller; fixed broadband penetration is lower than all except India; internet usage is similar to China and higher than India; and less spectrum has been assigned (see below).