Why do operators want to repurpose their spectrum?  What policies and technologies underpin spectrum refarming? Which are the crucial 2G and 3G bands? Read more...

The Modi government is intent on modernising spectrum policy but its attempts to reduce reserve prices in the upcoming mega-auction are meeting heavy resistance. Read more...

French carrier Orange's 4G reach makes it the leading operator in terms of customers in "seven of our eight operating countries in Europe," with 207 million mobile customers worldwide, according to its 2018 annual report. It aims to maintain that same position with its 5G network, building on its 2015… Read more...

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...

The Russian authorities are aiming to release 5G spectrum, but the country’s leading mobile operators are yet to agree on whether to establish a joint venture to develop the necessary infrastructure. The outcome of their negotiations will most likely define the mode of spectrum distribution that will be adopted by… 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...

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...

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...

India's huge potential as a 5G market looks likely to remain untapped for some time. Operators are still struggling to improve access to 4G and few 5G tests are under way. Read more...