Use of the UHF band in Europe | A new look at an old debate
Increased spectrum availability is a pre-requisite for sustainable investments and increased welfare. The European mobile market has some disadvantages compared to its North American and East Asian peers, particularly in terms of mobile revenues and 5G adoption (see Figures 1, 2 and 3). If regulatory objectives are not adapted to focus on the creation of an investment friendly environment, the concern is that Europe will fall behind in digitalisation and likely miss the Digital Decade targets. This should be a matter of concern for policy makers, including those dealing with spectrum as the market characteristics directly impact the ability of European operators to reinvest in their networks.
Mobile broadband has been proven as a catalyst for GDP growth, as a basis for social inclusion and wellbeing and a powerful tool in the fight against climate change. Behind the traffic figures, there are citizens that extract value from their mobile connectivity, using it for leisure, education, to interact with each other, to buy and sell products and services, and to save time and energy in their daily lives. There are also businesses and workers that are more productive and reduce their climate footprint thanks to their mobile broadband apps and IoT devices.
Investments in increased coverage and capacity need to be sustainable if the ambitious targets of the European Digital Decade and the opportunity for digital transformation of industry and the entirety of society are to be realised. Such sustainable development is crucial if mobile broadband traffic volumes and quality are to continue growing in Europe at the current pace. This is no small challenge taking into consideration the fact that, in large part due to a regulatory model with the objective of pushing down retail prices, mobile revenues per pop in Europe are one third of mobile revenues per pop in North America, and two-thirds of mobile revenues per pop in Developed Asia Pacific.
In that context, maximising spectrum availability is key. Most importantly, it would induce operators to enhance the capacity and quality of service (QoS) component of their commercial offers. With sufficient spectrum, re-use of existing sites will facilitate the adoption of a new capacity layer, making it easier to sustainably increase data allowances and network quality.
For more information please contact:
Emma O’Toole
Director, Spectrum, GSMA
As Senior Manager for Spectrum, Emma leads on GSMA Europe’s efforts to represent the mobile industry on European spectrum policy, helping to develop and deliver an advocacy agenda that ensures mobile operators have timely and affordable access to appropriate spectrum.
An Economist by training, Emma has experience in academic research as well as a corporate and regulated company environment and is specialised in telecommunications regulation, market and policy analysis.
Emma has extensive experience working on a broad range of telecoms regulatory and public policy issues having previously worked as the in-house Regulatory Economist and EU-level representative for the former Irish incumbent, Eir.
Prior to joining GSMA in 2021, Emma also worked as a Senior Analyst with Cullen International, monitoring and reporting on EU and national telecoms and spectrum policy developments.
Emma holds a MSc in Economics and Policy in addition to a Bachelor of Commerce (International) from the National University of Ireland Galway.