Telefonica Group has strongly criticised spectrum auction designs in various countries, claiming that any focus by regulators beyond efficient spectrum allocation and maintaining strong mobile competition risks hampering 5G rollout. Its 5G initiatives include projects for the banking sector, connected cars and TV broadcasting. 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...

US and Mexican operator AT&T says it's the first US company to introduce mobile 5G service in parts of several cities. That deployment is scheduled to expand nationwide by 2020 as the company continues to invest heavily in 5G. Current spectrum priorities include the sub- l GHz bands, as well… 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...

In October 2018, US carrier Verizon's 5G Home Internet became the world's first service offering explicitly branded 5G.  Verizon's spectrum focus is currently on 3.7-4.2 GHz (C-Band), 6 GHz and the upper 37 GHz, 39 GHz and 47 GHz bands. Read more...

Using LTE for public protection and disaster relief (PPDR) services has been much hyped in recent years, giving the impression that deployment is imminent. In fact a complete transition is likely to take a decade, even in first mover countries like the USA, UK, and South Korea. 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...

Google remains focused on the use of unlicensed spectrum. Submissions to regulators in past months showed particular interest in maximised access to mid-band spectrum and in greater use of dynamic spectrum sharing. Read more...

Microsoft is a staunch proponent of increased spectrum sharing in order to boost rural connectivity in the US and globally. Its recent focus is on opening the US 6 GHz band to unlicensed use, making the 3700-4200 MHz band available for frequency coordinated point-to-multipoint operations, and modifying TV white space… Read more...