EU’s Digital Networks Act may hand telcos unlimited spectrum rights — a major shift for 5G investment
Europe’s telecom operators could soon get something they’ve wanted for years: radio spectrum rights that don’t expire. A draft of the European Commission’s upcoming Digital Networks Act says spectrum usage rights should “in principle” be granted for an unlimited duration, according to a document seen by Reuters. (Reuters) This matters because spectrum is the airwaves mobile networks run on. If the “right to use” those airwaves stops coming with a ticking clock, it changes how operators plan big, long-term upgrades — from 5G densification to the next wave of network gear. The Commission’s argument is pretty straightforward: longer (or indefinite)