Spectrum pricing in developing countries

Download the Report
Complete the form below to get instant access to this report. For easier access in the future, you can register for a free account here.
Please sign in or register for a free public account to access this report.
To deliver affordable, widespread and high-quality mobile broadband services, mobile operators require affordable and predictable access to sufficient radio spectrum. Well-designed spectrum policy is therefore a critical input for a thriving digital economy. The right spectrum pricing policies can help enhance consumer and social welfare in developing countries. Policies that seek to maximise state revenues, however, can have a negative influence on consumer outcomes, including more expensive mobile services and reduced network investment.
To understand the trends and potential impacts of spectrum prices on mobile market outcomes, we examined more than 1,000 spectrum assignments across 102 countries (including 60 developing and 42 developed countries) between 2010 and 2017. The research focuses on trends in spectrum prices and reserve prices; links between spectrum prices and the macro-economic environment; and the potential impacts of high spectrum prices on mobile users. Supported by country case studies across several regions, the report shows how higher spectrum prices can lead to more expensive, lower quality mobile broadband services, highlighting the trade-off that exists in spectrum policy when trying to achieve both public financing and consumer welfare objectives.
Related research
Digital Nations 2025: Towards digital sovereignty in India
In India, government initiatives and policy objectives reflect the country's increasing focus on digital sovereignty, with an emphasis on self-reliance in digital technologies. These build on the progress made by Digital India and prioritise the development of digital technologies for social and economic growth.
Spectrum Navigator, Q2 2025
This quarterly series leverages the GSMA Intelligence Spectrum Navigator tool to identify key trends and insights. The report outlines the latest important developments in the spectrum world and the key trends to watch going forward.
Digital Nations 2025: Achieving the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan
Successfully realising ASEAN’s development plans requires concerted efforts by stakeholders to fully leverage the opportunities presented by digitalisation. This report highlights three principal measures to improve digital readiness: bridge the infrastructure gap, accelerate regional policy harmonisation, and leverage international cooperation mechanisms.
Authors
How to access this report
Annual subscription: Subscribe to our research modules for comprehensive access to more than 200 reports per year.
Enquire about subscriptionContact our research team
Get in touch with us to find out more about our research topics and analysis.
Contact our research teamMedia
To cite our research, please see our citation policy in our Terms of Use, or contact our Media team for more information.
Learn moreRelated research
Digital Nations 2025: Towards digital sovereignty in India
In India, government initiatives and policy objectives reflect the country's increasing focus on digital sovereignty, with an emphasis on self-reliance in digital technologies. These build on the progress made by Digital India and prioritise the development of digital technologies for social and economic growth.
Spectrum Navigator, Q2 2025
This quarterly series leverages the GSMA Intelligence Spectrum Navigator tool to identify key trends and insights. The report outlines the latest important developments in the spectrum world and the key trends to watch going forward.
Digital Nations 2025: Achieving the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan
Successfully realising ASEAN’s development plans requires concerted efforts by stakeholders to fully leverage the opportunities presented by digitalisation. This report highlights three principal measures to improve digital readiness: bridge the infrastructure gap, accelerate regional policy harmonisation, and leverage international cooperation mechanisms.
- 200 reports a year
- 50 million data points
- Over 350 metrics