radio spectrum regulation

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.

Mexico's Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (CRT) submitted to public consultation draft rules for an upcoming spectrum auction. This auction would grant 20-year concessions for fixed radio link capacity in the 10.5 GHz (10.15–10.65 GHz) and 38 GHz (37–38.6 GHz) bands, with coverage for 242 geographic areas CRT refers to as basic service units (UBS). The spectrum is intended to extend wireless connectivity in rural and underserved areas. The consultation is scheduled to conclude on 21 October 2026. The proposal refers to interested parties having to express their interest as bidders from 23–27 November 2026, while bidding would start from 12 April 2027.

Mexico’s Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (CRT) published the final rules for auction CRT-RRI-01-2026, which will award 10-year concessions in the 2340–2400 MHz band for private industrial “intelligent wireless communications”. The final rules differ materially from the consultation draft, offering more spectrum per industrial coverage region (ICR), wider blocks and more ICRs. Expressions of interest can be submitted from 19 to 23 October 2026, and bidding is scheduled to start on 19 April 2027.