Nations worldwide are assigning 26 GHz spectrum, and to a lesser degree 28 GHz, for IMT. This Research Note catalogues the status of 26 and 28 GHz spectrum awards in a representative sample of nations, identifying regional variations and trends. Read more...

The country’s three established operators – NTT Docomo, KDDI and SoftBank – all launched commercial 5G service in March 2020, while newcomer Rakuten Mobile arrived on the scene six months later. 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...

Japanese operator SoftBank's priorities revolve around creating a "world where all things, information and minds are connected." It remains focused on high-altitude platforms for the Internet of Things and 5G, but is also investing in artificial intelligence (AI), augmented and virtual reality, robots and other cutting-edge technologies. Read more...

NTT DOCOMO is Japan's largest telecommunications company, now serving over 80 million customers, as of its 2020 annual report, with advanced wireless networks, including a nationwide LTE network and an LTE-Advanced network. It plans to roll out 5G networks in the 2020s. Read more...

While led by the US, many nations in Europe, and to a lesser degree the Asia Pacific, have moved to ban equipment from Huawei and ZTE. Many of these actions fall short of outright bans, although measures such as strict security requirements and increased government intervention powers effectively constitute de… Read more...

This table shows the actions taken against Huawei in 40 countries. Read more...

Japan has a tradition of close cooperation between industry and government in the mobile industry that, while not fractured, is undergoing some creative tension. Read more...

NTT DOCOMO, which in April 2019 was assigned spectrum in Japan in 3.7 GHz, 4.5 GHz and 28 GHz, remains a 5G pioneer.  DOCOMO now services over 78 million mobile customers in Japan, and continues to build out its 4G LTE network. 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...