(2016 entry) China Mobile is the world's largest 4G operator in number of subscribers, operating in mainland China and Hong Kong. It is focused on 4G deployment. For 5G, it prefers spectrum below 6 GHz for 5G services, with the C band a priority. Read more...

Japan's SoftBank Group is a diversified IT and communications company, owning the nationwide US mobile carrier, Sprint as well as running a mobile operator in its home country. Sprint recently announced it would be "integrating backhaul bands" into its 5G network. Read more...

Microsoft's basic goal is to connect its cloud services to customer's devices, and it sees spectrum as a key enabler for doing that. The company is a leading proponent for use of TV white spaces, but is also interested in the 5 GHz band as well as in higher band… Read more...

The world's biggest market has three operators, assigns spectrum by administrative methods and is notable for its enthusiasm for unpaired spectrum. The home of a leading manufacturer, Huawei, China is carrying out 5G trials and emphasises the importance of bands below 6 GHz. Read more...

(2016 entry)   The long-awaited broadcast incentive auction, whereby mobile operators can acquire 600 MHz spectrum from broadcasters via the regulator, is now under way. Other major initiatives include the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) attempts to support research into using 5G in the higher bands. Read more...

As the European Commission blocked Three's attempt to acquire O2, the UK remains a four-operator market for now. Everything Everywhere (EE) holds the most spectrum, but the 2.3 and 3.4 GHz bands are due to be auctioned soon. The 700 MHz band is due to follow by 2020. Read more...

Poland has a competitive mobile market but has found it difficult to assign new spectrum in recent years. Auctions have been dogged by delays, disagreements and litigation. Read more...

US-only carrier Verizon runs the country's largest LTE wireless network. The company has already announced 5G specifications in 28 GHz and favours the use of mmWave bands. Read more...

The French telecoms carrier wants more harmonised, affordable spectrum and advocates the need for sub-6GHz spectrum for 5G. Read more...

Spain has three main mobile operators who together own almost 75 per cent of the country's licensed spectrum, plus another smaller operator. The country's regulators are keen to press ahead with reassigning broadcasting spectrum to mobile, but they have had trouble doing this in the 800 MHz band and may… Read more...