Research update: The spectrum market in Europe’s four biggest economies

Our recent research notes have surveyed the spectrum market in Europe’s top four economies and the prospects for these two bands look the brightest in Germany and France. Both countries have already auctioned 700 MHz, and unlike the UK and Italy plans for 3.5 GHz are well developed with no significant obstacles in sight.

In the UK the 3.5 GHz auction faces a legal challenge from two operators and the knock-on effect on the release of 700 MHz is uncertain.

While we understand that Italy will soon announce plans for 3.5 GHz they are unlikely to meet the EU deadline of 2020 for releasing all of the 700 MHz although progress is being made.

Both Germany and France have announced plans to allow mobile usage of 3.5 GHz by 2018.

The research notes for the four countries also include data on operator’s spectrum holdings, other spectrum policy initiative and significant developments such as Deutsche Telekom’s narrowband IoT network.

Research Notes

Germany by Jonathan Watson
German mobile operators are currently planning to deploy 5G in the 700 MHz band, which was auctioned in June 2015.…

United Kingdom by Jonathan Watson
UK regulator Ofcom and the UK’s four mobile network operators are actively preparing for the 5G era. However, Ofcom’s plan…

Italy by Jonathan Watson
5G trials are to launch in five Italian cities in 2018, with several operators planning to launch a commercial service…

France by Jonathan Watson
Like the UK, France currently has four main mobile network operators – Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom and Free – and…

Auction Tracker updates

Uruguay 700 MHz, AWS and 2.1 GHz auction by Patrick Gahan
Communications Services Regulatory Unit (URSEC) 15 Aug 2017 Uruguay’s Communications Services Regulatory Unit (URSEC) has released the results of the 700…

Sweden 450 MHz by Patrick Gahan
PTS   Update: September 23, 2017: The Swedish telecom regulator (PTS) released a general invitation to participate in the country’s…

Sweden 2.8 GHz by Patrick Gahan
Swedish Post and Telecom Agency (PTS) September 26, 2017: Plans to auction this band have been cancelled, PTS has told PolicyTracker.…

Germany 2 GHz, 3.6 GHz by Patrick Gahan
BNetzA German regulator BNetzA has said that frequency in 3.4-3.8 GHz and 2 GHz ranges should be made available “as…

Italy 700 MHz, 3.4-3.8 GHz, 26 GHz by Kane Mumford
Italy is due to make an announcement on its plans for the auction of spectrum in Italy 700 MHz, 3.4-3.8 GHz,…

Brazil 3.5 GHz by Patrick Gahan
ANTEL The Brazilian regulator ANTEL announced plans for a review of the use of the 3.5 GHz band in January…

News articles

Spectrum dispute at heart of European mobile industry’s existential crisis by Kane Mumford
Disagreement between EU institutions on new proposals for minimum licence durations and peer reviews of spectrum rewards is causing uncertainty…

ECJ advocate general backs Commission in WRC-15 case by Kane Mumford
The court case that should decide the boundaries of the European Commission’s influence in World Radiocommunication ConferenceThe World Radiocommunication Conference (W… (WRC) negotiations has…

Netherlands abandons 2.1 GHz unlicensed plan by Kane Mumford
Private businesses that could have used the spectrum say there is still a need for reliable access but that more…

BT/EE drops call for release of entire 3.4-3.8 GHz band from auction legal challenge by Kane Mumford
The UK operator BT/EE has joined the legal battle against the spectrum regulator, Ofcom, seeking a judicial review of its decision…

Italian multiband auction talks go down to the wire by Kane Mumford
Discussions are in their final stages and are focused on the best way to release spectrum in the 3.4-3.8 GHz…