A lack of national-level spectrum policy is stymieing the development of the commercial drone industry. This is despite the progressive identification of spectrum for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) at the international-level and ongoing innovation supporting innumerable use cases for commercial drones. In the first of a two-part series, we explain… 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...

France's four main mobile network operators (MNOs) have all started testing 5G in the 3.5 GHz band, and consultations are underway on the 26 GHz band. The government's "new deal" with the MNOs has been hailed as an innovative way to improve 4G coverage. Consolidation remains a strong possibility. 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...

UK regulator Ofcom and the UK's four mobile network operators are actively preparing for the 5G era. Despite a series of legal challenges, Ofcom has now auctioned the 2.3 and 3.4 GHz bands. The 700 MHz band is due to be auctioned (lawyers permitting) by 2020. Read more...

German mobile operators are currently planning to deploy 5G in the 700 MHz band, which was auctioned in June 2015. More auctions of spectrum suitable for 5G are due in 2019. The country's competition authority believes that a fourth mobile operator needs to enter the market to boost competition. Read more...

Just 2% of Spain's land mass is made up of 'intensively built-up' areas, yet it is inhabited by almost half of the population. 'Built up' areas cover a slightly larger 5% of the land mass and house a further 24% of the population. 'Moderately built-up' areas cover a larger 32%… Read more...

Just 6% of the UK's land mass is made up of 'intensively built-up' areas and is inhabited by 75% of the population. The remaining population live mostly in 'moderately built-up' areas which make up 34% of the land mass, leaving over half of land mass containing very few people. Read more...