Spectrum leasing in the 5G era
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This report provides a global overview of spectrum leasing and offers best-practice recommendations for policymakers. It examines how successes to date suggest there is an untapped potential for using spectrum leasing to accelerate the 5G era.
Exclusive licensing should continue to be the cornerstone of a country’s spectrum strategy; it is essential to guaranteeing the necessary long-term investment commitments needed for 5G networks and to delivering high quality mobile broadband services. However, access models such as leasing can, when implemented correctly, help expand connectivity and avoid the use of set-asides.
The report looks at several enablers of spectrum leasing: the creation of an enabling regulatory environment; support for voluntary commercial negotiations; and the availability of sufficient affordable spectrum in the right bands.
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Learn moreRelated research
The impact of spectrum pricing in Bangladesh
At around 16%, Bangladesh’s spectrum-cost-to-revenue ratio exceeds the Asia Pacific median (10.4%) and is twice as high as the global median (7.7%). High spectrum cost has been shown to negatively impact consumer outcomes, such as network coverage and speeds. Reducing prices by 50% would align spectrum costs closer to the Asia Pacific median at about 12% by 2035, boosting 4G speeds by 17% and enabling 99% 5G coverage, yielding a cumulative $34 billion GDP boost. Aligning costs to the global median of 8% of operators’ revenue would increase 4G speeds by 22% and accelerate 5G rollout further, generating a $45 billion GDP boost.
Network Sunsets, Q2 2025
This quarterly series leverages GSMA Intelligence data on network sunsets to identify the key trends and understand the future. The report outlines the latest developments in network sunsets. The data provided here covers network sunsets by year, technology and region. The report also spotlights the momentum in 2G/3G network sunsets in the context of total active 2G/3G networks globally.
Spectrum Pricing in the 5G Era: Türkiye
As demand for mobile data accelerates, spectrum policy will play a decisive role in determining whether Türkiye can keep pace with international connectivity standards or fall behind.
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