UK regulator Ofcom and the UK's four mobile network operators are actively preparing for the 5G era. Despite a series of legal challenges, Ofcom has now auctioned the 2.3 and 3.4 GHz bands. The 700 MHz band is due to be auctioned (lawyers permitting) by 2020. Read more...

German mobile operators are currently planning to deploy 5G in the 700 MHz band, which was auctioned in June 2015. More auctions of spectrum suitable for 5G are due in 2019. The country's competition authority believes that a fourth mobile operator needs to enter the market to boost competition. Read more...

The Vodafone Group continues to build its 4G spectrum portfolio, while acquiring additional spectrum for 5G services, which it expects to launch in 2020.  Read more...

5G trials are to launch in five Italian cities in 2018, with several operators planning to launch a commercial service by 2020. Most of the country's 5G efforts are focused on the 3.4-3.8 GHz band. Read more...

India's huge potential as a 5G market looks likely to remain untapped for some time. Operators are still struggling to improve access to 4G and few 5G tests are under way. Read more...

Spain's regulator has launched a public consultation on 5G as part of its preparations for the next generation of mobile networks. Mobile operators have also started testing the technology that is expected to be a part of 5G. Read more...

US and Mexican operator AT&T is investing heavily in expanding its network capacity and in securing the spectrum needed to meet its long-term needs. It is also shifting spectrum used for 2G to its 3G and 4G networks as it moves toward 5G. Read more...

Vodafone's goal is to create a converged "Gigabit Society" of ubiquitous and reliable high-speed connectivity. A proponent of narrow-band IoT technology, the operator is pushing for a globally harmonised approach to spectrum. Read more...

India is gradually making more spectrum available, but LTE has not made much progress yet and mobile operators are resentful of the amounts they have had to spend on licences in recent years. Read more...

(2016 entry) The European leader in releasing 700 Mhz and L-band, Germany recently saw its number of operators reduce from four to three with the acquisition of E-Plus by Telefónica. Read more...