PolicyTracker

This was the first time it had throttled 4G and 5G speeds as part of its annual war games, a reflection of how network disruption has become a standard part of modern warfare. The exercise, which ran from 5 to 14 August, simulated what might happen in the event of an attack by China or a natural disaster. Basic mobile phone service such as voice calls and text continued to work.

The pipeline of new mobile spectrum bands has gone from a steady flow to a drip, with important consequences for how the essential regulatory tools of auctions and spectrum valuation are being used. Over the past 15 years, we have seen 600 MHz, 700 MHz, 3.6 GHz, 3.7-4.2 GHz, L-band, 26 GHz and 28 GHz assigned as mobile bands. But which new mobile bands will be released over the next 15 years? Very few.

As part of the deal, the US company will donate equipment and provide free connectivity in specified locations for two years. The story is in line with a broader trend in Argentina, where the current administration has demonstrated ongoing interest in supporting the work of corporations like SpaceX across its territory. In June 2026, ENACOM approved Starlink’s request to access various frequencies in the W band (92-114.25 GHz) on an “exceptional” basis.

Amazon Leo, formerly known as Project Kuiper, for example, has gained authorisation from US regulator the FCC to add thousands of satellites to its existing constellation. By April 2026, the company had launched 300 satellites.

“This is a solution to a problem that we don’t have,” said Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association. “And it brings with it a plethora of problems that we don’t need.” Speaking on BBC radio, he referred to traffic congestion, lost property, wheelchair users, and practical aspects of running a taxi service as issues that an AI, however well-trained, might never be able to handle. There’s a second problem-we-don’t-need dimension to this launch.

The bands covered are as follows: L-band (1-2 GHz) S-band (2-4 GHz) C-band (4-8 GHz) X-band (8-12 GHz) Ku-band (12-18 GHz) Ka-band (26-40 GHz) E-band (71-86 GHz) There is an overview summarising the key features of each band and an individual profile of each one. As the importance of satellite connectivity continues to grow, we felt it was important to include satellite bands as well as mobile bands in our overview of spectrum bands.

“For decades, the U.S. has welcomed foreign satellite operators into our market,” said FCC chair Brendan Carr on X in March. “New barriers are emerging that constrain US businesses operating abroad, including in the draft EU Space Law and their Digital Networks Act.” At the time, Carr was announcing a call for comments on “reciprocity” and “fair treatment for our operators”. He later denied that this was the same thing as “retaliation”.

The chairman of SK Group, which owns leading vendor SK Hynix, Chey Tae-won, conceded at a recent press briefing that memory prices are “abnormally high,” and that the industry must take steps to increase supply and help lower prices. It might be too late. Gartner projected earlier this year that worldwide PC shipments will fall by over 10 per cent and smartphone shipments by more than eight per cent in 2026 because of surging memory prices.

Australia’s Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation (UOMO) is the first serious attempt at defining D2D coverage and QoS, and it deserves more attention than it has had. The legislation was introduced into Parliament in November 2025 and is currently at the second reading stage in the House of Representatives. The most recent update from the House is a debate on 28 May 2026; the final form of the legislation is still undecided.

The Federal Communications Commission’s AWS-3 auction (Auction 113) ran for 72 bidding rounds from 2 to 23 June, with 200 licences in the 1695-1770/1700-2180 MHz range awarded to seven successful bidders for $3.57 billion. The licences cover around 40% of the US population. T-Mobile won the most licences but not the most coverage Most of this money is going towards paying off loans taken out by the FCC to fund “rip and replace” projects to replace Chinese mobile infrastructure.