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...

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...

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...

(2016 entry) Italy's mobile market is set to change following the European Commission's approval of the €20 billion merger between Three and Wind. Several spectrum auctions have been held in recent years, and the next one will probably involve the 700 MHz band - although this may not be for… Read more...

Like the UK, France currently has four main mobile network operators - Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom and Free - and their attempts to consolidate have come to nothing so far. Orange, formerly the monopoly operator France Telecom, has the most spectrum and the most subscribers. Read more...

Brazil is a huge market, but the country now faces major challenges that could make life very difficult for its mobile industry. 5G tests are being carried out in Brazil but the country has not been a major player in discussions and does not plan to make 28 GHz available. 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...