The Vodafone Group wants to "build a digital society that enhances socio-economic progress, embraces everyone and does not come at the cost of our planet," according to its 2019 annual report. It plans to increase its leadership in 4G to create Europe's biggest 5G network, and to focus its 5G efforts… Read more...

Japanese operator SoftBank was assigned new spectrum in the 3.7 GHz and 28 GHz bands for 5G, and is focused on high-altitude platforms for the Internet of Things and 5G.  The proposed merger of its US segment Sprint with T-Mobile looks set to be approved, while Sprint is deploying 5G… Read more...

América Móvil provides telecommunications services in 25 countries in the Americas, Caribbean and Central and Eastern Europe. It wants to boost its position in integrated telecoms services in Latin America and the Caribbean while growing its subscriber base in other parts of the world. The company is building out its… Read more...

Poland’s spectrum regulator UKE is preparing to release 5G spectrum, but the rollout could be delayed by the lagging legislative work on amending the telecommunications law, inefficient cooperation with industry players, and lack of understanding with neighbouring countries. Read more...

Sweden’s regulator PTS has assigned 700 MHz spectrum amid controversy, and has plans to assign 2.3 and 3.4-3.8 GHz spectrum for 5G. Spectrum will be available for commercial 5G launches in Sweden in 2020. Read more...

Italy has completed a multi-band auction in low-, mid- and high-frequency bands, 700 MHz, 3.6-3.8 MHz and 26 GHz, and has become the first nation in Europe to assign and define rules for the use of spectrum in all three pioneer 5G spectrum bands. Read more...

The Indian operator is frequently name-checked as a model for successfully breaking into a mobile market with its straight-to-4G, data-only strategy. But Reliance Jio Infocomm looks like a one-off: finding another visionary, billionaire backer like Mukesh Ambani, willing to invest a significant chunk of his capital in spectrum and infrastructure… Read more...

Austria expects to start auctioning spectrum for 5G in autumn this year. In 2018 and 2019, the plan is to award frequencies in the 700 MHz, 1500 MHz, 2100 MHz and 3.4-3.8 GHz bands. Read more...

Japan will be hosting the Olympic Games in 2020 and the country plans to use the event as a showcase for new technologies such as 5G. As a result, both its government and its operators are very active in testing the technology. Read more...

The Brazilian regulator is one of many worldwide to have launched a consultation on using the 3.5 GHz band for 5G. However, it intends to focus on LTE-A in the band first. The regulator has also said that 5G auctions will be held after 2020, once global terms on bandwidth… Read more...