radio spectrum regulation

The Swedish regulator assigned dedicated frequencies in the 700 MHz band to the Swedish Civil Defence Agency for the establishment of SWEN, the new Swedish emergency network. In parallel, the agency signed framework agreements with Telia and Net4Mobility to complement SWEN’s own infrastructure with access to commercial mobile networks.

Honduras published final rules to auction 2x75 MHz in the 700 MHz and AWS bands on 1 December 2026. The rules combine rural coverage obligations with public connectivity commitments and allow an award at reserve prices if only one bidder participates.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) issued an interim update to its 2023–2027 Spectrum Outlook, reprioritising several bands and adding new policy work on direct-to-device satellite services, 5G/6G mmWave, access licensing, tower siting and spectrum licence transfers. The update confirms the 26/38 GHz auction for October 2027 and the local licensing of 28 GHz for late 2026.

The Panamanian regulator, ASEP, submitted to public consultation four draft amendments to Panama’s national frequency plan: an update of the national allocation table based on the ITU World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23); licence-exempt use of the 5925–6425 MHz band; a redefinition of the Panama Canal zone for fixed wireless access services; and new rules for direct-to-device satellite services. The consultation concludes on 28 October 2026.

A newly designed benchmark shows the policies of European spectrum regulators for upcoming decisions and their rationales in the past, when they had to decide whether to renew spectrum licences or to organise a new auction.

State-owned operator CNT launched direct-to-device (D2D) services with Starlink. The service uses CNT’s spectrum in the 1900 MHz and 2.6 GHz bands and covers more than 82% of Ecuador’s territory.