GSMA Urges Reform in Spectrum Policies to Boost Europe's 5G Investment

A recent GSMA report highlights the potential for significant infrastructure investment in Europe’s mobile networks if smarter spectrum policies are adopted. This would facilitate accelerated 5G standalone (5G SA) rollouts and enhance economic productivity across the continent.

The report, "Spectrum pricing and renewals in Europe," emphasizes that high spectrum costs have risen to represent 8% of mobile operators’ revenues. This is a critical factor as Europe lags behind global counterparts in 5G adoption.

With over 500 spectrum licences set for renewal in the next decade, a reformed approach could reduce operator costs by €30 billion. Such savings could upgrade current networks, potentially adding €75 billion to Europe's GDP.

GSMA's Chief Regulatory Officer, John Giusti, calls for a forward-thinking policy reform to direct funds effectively into Europe's digital future.