Spectrum is a scarce resource and can be used more efficiently when multiple users agree to share it. Cullen International designed two new benchmarks that examine the regulation and practice of spectrum sharing in 21 European countries.

Sharing between public mobile networks

The first newly designed Benchmark examines the regulation and practice of sharing between public mobile networks.

About half of the countries observed have adopted some kind of policy or guidelines on spectrum sharing between mobile networks. Most have at least some rules in place that support sharing.

However, many of these rules only ask the regulator to promote spectrum sharing without imposing concrete obligations on licensees. The United Kingdom has a far-reaching sharing framework under which any third party may ask for a local shared access licence for a particular location.

The proposed Digital Networks Act would introduce a general requirement for spectrum sharing in the EU. Holders of rights to use spectrum would be required to allow and offer spectrum sharing, unless they can demonstrate current or planned use that makes sharing technically infeasible.

When mobile network operators share spectrum, they often do it in combination with sharing parts of their infrastructure such as their radio access network (RAN). Our Benchmark finds examples of such RAN sharing with spectrum pooling in 10 of the 21 monitored countries. Some are restricted to a small geographic footprint whereas others cover large areas or the entire country.

Sharing between mobile and other services

A second newly designed Benchmark examines several forms of spectrum sharing between mobile and other services.

A debate is ongoing on sharing between mobile and Wi-Fi in the upper 6 GHz band. The UK regulator Ofcom has already presented a proposal whereas EU member states are waiting for the results of the World Radiocommunication Conference 2027 (WRC-27) and harmonisation at EU level.

Some countries have adopted a framework of licensed shared access for spectrum bands that cannot be fully cleared from incumbent users but could be shared between old and new users, in particular in the 2.3–2.4 GHz band.

Only a few countries conducted experiments or pilots to test sharing between broadcasting and mobile in the 470–694 MHz band (TV white spaces).

Sharing with private local networks and with satellite services

Cullen International also has a Benchmark on local 5G networks and a Benchmark on direct-to-device (D2D) satellite services. Local industry networks can either use their own local licences or spectrum shared by national operators. Satellite services for mass-market smartphones use spectrum shared by terrestrial mobile licensees.

For more information and access to the benchmarks, please click on “Access the full content” - or on “Request access”, in case you are not subscribed to our European Spectrum service.