A redesigned and updated Global Trends benchmark covers 5G policies and regulations and their evolution towards 6G across 20 jurisdictions around the world, including:

• 5G deployments: status of network coverage and service uptake
• Infrastructure policies for 5G/6G
• IMT spectrum assignments and first spectrum roadmaps in view of 6G

5G is now available in all jurisdictions, but regional and national gaps still exist

5G is widely available in most of the developed economies and in some of the emerging economies covered in this benchmark, also showing increasing uptake of the technology. However, in some of the covered jurisdictions there are still significant 5G coverage gaps. Mobile users in sparsely populated areas in those jurisdictions (as well as several others covered in this benchmark) still rely on 4G (or an earlier generation technology).

As of early 2026, some MNOs are already preparing for their 6G commercial launches, expected in the early 2030s in some jurisdictions.

Public policies on 5G are transitioning towards 6G

Some governments already issued the first 6G strategies and roadmaps, and/or have been making available public funding for 6G research and development, standardization and testing.

In some jurisdictions, new spectrum roadmaps are setting the foundations for 6G

As of early 2026 Hong Kong is the only covered jurisdiction having already assigned the upper 6 GHz band for 5G/6G. Brazil plans to assign this frequency band to mobile network operators s in 2028, while India recently consulted on this matter.

A few new auctions to assign high-demand spectrum bands for 5G/6G are already planned or in preparation in several jurisdictions.

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Scope
Region: Global
Jurisdictions covered: 20 (Australia, Brazil, China, the EU, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, the UK, the US, and Vietnam)
Policy area: Radio Spectrum
Last updated: March 2026