Defence ministries around the world control a significant amount of spectrum. Thanks to advances in spectrum sharing, there is an opportunity to share some of these frequencies with commercial users, particularly from the mobile industry. But are defence users willing allies? Read more...

PolicyTracker’s 2023 country profiles cover Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Sweden, the UK and the US. In this overview we analyse their spectrum release plans; approach to 6 GHz; policy on private networks; and plans for 6G. Read more...

Ofcom continues to improve its local licensing regimes and working towards a mmWave auction, while also considering new policy objectives put forth in the recently announced UK Wireless Infrastructure Strategy. Read more...

Now present in 54 countries, Starlink is a high-speed, low-latency broadband network using NGSO LEOs to provide broadband connectivity globally. Starlink satellites are using spectrum resources in the Ka- Ku- and V-bands. Starlink also has plans to use E-Band spectrum for communications between satellites and gateways and V2 Mini satellites.… Read more...

Amazon’s Project Kuiper’s first-generation LEO constellation will use frequencies in the Ka-band to provide fixed and mobile satellite services (MSS and FSS). Amazon is also seeking permission from US regulator the FCC to use V- and Ku-band spectrum. In February 2023, Amazon received final approval from the FCC for its… Read more...

After decades of developing and operating its geosynchronous orbit-based satellite services business, Telesat has commenced the development of a constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and integrated terrestrial infrastructure known as Telesat Lightspeed. Ka-band spectrum is of particular importance to both Telesat’s GEO and LEO programs. It also plans… 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...

Spectrum managers around the world are increasingly embracing the concept of regulatory sandboxes to facilitate technology, product and service innovations and to support new business models. Regulatory sandboxes are also enabling policymakers to test new, more flexible, regulatory frameworks that are data-driven and informed by the outcomes of projects conducted… Read more...

Despite the lack of clarity surrounding mmWave use cases and unproven business models, regulators and industry are examining a range of new approaches to mmWave spectrum sharing. Three case studies based on the work of Ofcom in the UK, Canada’s ISED and Qualcomm inform this research note, which outlines a… Read more...