Germany completed an auction of spectrum for 5G in June 2019, generating more than €6.5 billion, and the country's regulator is currently considering to provide local players with expanded access to the 3.7 - 3.8 GHz band to enhance the technology’s roll-out. Read more...

Auction procedures have been used in the UK to assign all 5G pioneer bands – with the exception of 26 GHz which remains unassigned– but spectrum sharing and local licensing dominate much of the regulator’s current and future agenda. Read more...

Are the network economics of traditional 5G networks unsustainable? 5G operators are spending billions of dollars building out networks with increasing operational complexities also adding to costs. At the same time ARPU is languishing. Can Open RAN solve the problem? Read more...

Telecom Italia and Vodafone launched 5G services in June 2019, followed by Wind Tre in April 2020 and Iliad in December 2020. Fastweb provides 5G services through a network sharing agreement with Wind Tre. TIM and Vodafone also have a passive network sharing agreement for 5G including all antenna sites… Read more...

Telia, Tele2, Telenor and Three (3) all launched commercial 5G networks in Sweden in 2020. After several delays, Sweden’s regulator, PTS, awarded 5G spectrum in the 3.5 GHz and 2.3 GHz bands via auction in January 2021. Read more...

French carrier Orange continues to broaden the reach of its 4G network, with 214 million mobile customers worldwide, according to its 2020 annual report. It has deployed 5G in several countries and is looking ahead to 6G. Read more...

Deutsche Telekom's long-stated goal has been to be the "leading European telco," an aim not only achieved but surpassed despite the "difficult market environment and the negative impact of coronavirus," management board chairman Tim Höttges claimed in the company's 2020 annual report. And, following its merger with Sprint, US subsidiary… Read more...

Telefonica Group is upgrading its 4G and 5G networks and continues to add to its spectrum portfolio. A key focus now is Open RAN networks for 5G deployment. Read more...

Unlike their counterparts in most countries, Russia’s operators are to start developing 5G services with the use of the 4.8 - 4.99 GHz band which is likely to delay the technology’s rollout in the market. As the 3.4 - 3.8 GHz band will continue to be used by the Russian… Read more...

Poland’s regulator UKE is aiming to auction 5G spectrum this year after its previous attempt was canceled in 2020. But the rollout could be delayed by the lagging legislative work on amending the law on the National Cyber-Security System, inefficient cooperation with industry players, and lack of understanding with neighbouring… Read more...