Germany is still considering how to assign 800 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2.6 GHz licences which expire in 2025. The country's new fourth operator 1&1 has requested an "industry assignment" instead of an auction, yet some have raised doubts about the new entrant after its failure to hit rollout targets. Read more...

Deutsche Telekom (DT) continues to work toward its goal of becoming the "leading digital telco" by converging its fixed and mobile networks. US subsidiary T-Mobile USA remains focused on building out its 5G network. DT is intensively engaged in Open RAN activities and 6G research. Both telcos are working to… Read more...

UK-headquartered Vodafone Group aims to "build a digital society that enhances socioeconomic progress, is inclusive for all and does not come at a cost to our planet". It has 323 million mobile customers and operates in 21 countries. It offers broadband, TV, Internet of Things, financial and other services. Its… Read more...

Telefónica Group continues to upgrade its 4G and 5G networks and remains a strong proponent of Open RAN. It had 292 million mobile customers at the end of 2022 and operates in European and Latin American countries. It is interested in several potential or upcoming spectrum auctions. Read more...

Despite its critics, the Open RAN movement continues to take shape in 2022, expanding beyond greenfield operators to a growing number of brownfield operators with plans for the phased integration of Open RAN and vRAN into legacy networks. Among brownfield operators, there is a trend to promote shared Open RAN… Read more...

Germany has adjusted its vertical spectrum licencing programme to include mobile network operators, but the country remains uncertain about which assignment method to use for its upcoming 800 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2.6 GHz award. Read more...

A growing number of regulators are moving to assign or set aside spectrum for private networks. This Research Note provides an overview of the status of spectrum earmarked for localized usage highlighting global and regional trends and setting the stage for more detailed consideration of private spectrum policy approaches that… Read more...

Assignment of spectrum in the 3.3 - 3.8 GHz range dominates private spectrum policy agendas, followed by spectrum in the 26 GHz and 28 GHz ranges. Despite this focus on mid-band and mmWave spectrum, there is wide variance in both spectrum bands and bandwidth amounts allocated for private use across… Read more...

As a growing number of nations move to assign spectrum for private local networks there is a wide variance in approaches – not only in terms of spectrum policy. Local licensing frameworks are also highly fragmented across parameters including definitions of local coverage areas, spectrum usage conditions and spectrum fees. Read more...

Telefónica Group continues to upgrade its 4G and 5G networks and to press for Open RAN development. It has decided to focus its resources and investment on its four main mobile network operators -- in Spain, Germany, the UK and Brazil. It has nearly 278 million mobile customers as of… Read more...