INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
kickstart 5G development and rollout in the country.Communications regulator (BNetzA) plans to auction 2GHz and 3.6GHZ airwaves in early
the Cartel Office has concerns that market concentration means the major mobile operators have less incentive to invest in revolutionary new
mobile technologies.German 5GHe wants a fourth player to participate in the auction and also wants mobile operators to be obligated to open
They argue that if they were forced to spend more money on spectrum, they would have less capital to invest in infrastructure and Germany
would fall even further behind in the race to 5G.They also claim that proposals to open up their networks would allow MVNOs to benefit from
their investments without undertaking the same financial burdens, putting incumbents at a further disadvantage.Despite the approval of
markets where the number of operators has fallen from four to three.In 2016, the European Commission (EC) blocked the proposed merger of
Markets Authority (CMA).However, there is also concern that this strong competition and market fragmentation is putting Europe at a
disadvantage when it comes to the global race for 5G leadership
Whereas US and Asian operators have less intense competitive and regulatory environments, as well as large populations to target, European
operators have many rivals and smaller populations to contend with.The UK has already held its first 5G spectrum auction and it is expected
the first commercial services will go live in 2019 or 2020.
