The 5G Divide in Emerging Markets
This White Paper examines the ‘5G Divide’ between Emerging Markets (EMs), through case studies spanning Egypt, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Congo (DRC) and Vietnam. It evaluates the socio-economic costs of delayed spectrum allocation and 5G, as well as the impact of excessive spectrum prices. Finally, it seeks to identify the main steps and policies needed to bridge the 5G gap. We focus on the impact of ‘True 5G’, which is taken to be the deployment of 5G in wide contiguous channels (for high capacity and very high general performance), alongside low-band channels (for wide area coverage and improved cell-edge performance).
Mobile is a key driver of economic development, and true 5G will play a significant part in driving incremental value in the Consumer, Home and Business verticals:
– Consumer: Ultrafast Mobility and Latency-sensitive applications;
– Home: Fibre-like Fixed Wireless Access (FWA);
– Business: Catalyst for Industry 4.0 and AI Integration;
– 5G will play an outsized role in enabling AI applications within EMs;
The net incremental benefits of true 5G are in the order of 1.1% of GDP. Spectrum policy is a key determinant of 5G outcomes: spectrum insufficiency, especially the lack of 3.5 GHz bandwidth, is a major barrier to true 5G and the high-performance benefits that wide band channels deliver. A wide band 5G channel of 100 MHz can generate 3.5x faster data speeds than a 40 MHz channel under equivalent % cell loading.
Excessive spectrum prices can “kill the Golden Goose”: they either lead to unsold hence un-utilised spectrum, or they choke network investment by transferring scarce capital from the industry to the state. Ultimately, high spectrum fees have a disproportionate impact on consumer welfare.
Related insights
While non-standalone (NSA) 5G is a pragmatic stepping stone, operators need to evolve to Standalone (SA) mode to exploit the full benefits of 5G. For example, true 5G could reduce network TCO by an amount equal to up to 11% of revenues in Egypt, one of the countries examined. In addition to high performance benefits, wide band assignments drove cost efficiency: TCO per unit of capacity of a 100 MHz channel would be 45% of that for a 40 MHz channel. Vietnam is the positive example to emulate. Pakistan, which has adopted similar policies as Vietnam, is likely to overtake Egypt. In Egypt delays in making 3.5 GHz available and excessive spectrum prices put it at high risk of falling behind Pakistan, which has recently adopted similar spectrum policies to Vietnam. Significant lost opportunities are being risked across a range of emerging markets; Iraq and other Arab nations in particular would benefit from forward-looking spectrum and 5G policies, and could learn from the Egypt case study.
Other insights
US Trade Policy and the Future of the Upper 6 GHz Band
The upper 6 GHz band (6425–7125 MHz) is sought after for both licensed mobile (IMT) and unlicensed Wi-Fi (R-LAN) use. While the Wi-Fi lobby argues that additional spectrum is needed for capacity, US industrial interests are the key driver. This is evident in the 2026 US–Bangladesh trade agreement, which obliges Bangladesh to open the band to Wi-Fi. Given overwhelming reliance on mobile connectivity, in Bangladesh there is no plausible scenario that allocating the upper 6 GHz band to Wi-Fi would generate a greater economic benefit than allocating it to licensed mobile.
Upper 6 GHz for 5G-Advanced and 6G in RCC Countries
This paper was presented at the 30th meeting of the RCC Commission on Radio Spectrum and Satellite Orbits in the panel session “Radiofrequency Spectrum: Needs, Challenges and Opportunities for Timely Implementation of New Technologies”. The presentation was held on the 17th of August 2026 in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyz Republic.
Expiring Spectrum Licences in Europe: Renewal, Re-auction, or Alternative Approaches?
As spectrum licences across Europe approach renewal, policymakers face a critical choice between automatic renewal, re-auction or alternative approaches. This presentation examines the European Commission’s proposals, the challenges of renewal pricing and why public interest should be the guiding principle in spectrum licence policy.
Satellite Connectivity and the Operator Challenge
The rapid expansion of low earth orbit satellite constellations and the emergence of direct-to-device connectivity are creating one of the most significant strategic challenges the mobile industry has faced in decades. Satellite operators are evolving from niche providers serving remote areas into potentially powerful competitors capable of delivering broadband and mobile connectivity directly to consumer devices independently of terrestrial infrastructure. Coleago examines the commercial, strategic and regulatory implications of this shift from the perspective of mobile network operators.
Satellite Services and Regulatory Challenges
The rapid emergence of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations and direct-to-device (D2D) technologies is reshaping the communications landscape. Satellite systems are evolving from niche, complementary solutions into mainstream providers of broadband and mobile connectivity, capable of connecting directly to smartphones without intermediary infrastructure. Convergence between satellite and terrestrial mobile networks raises profound regulatory, economic and competitive questions for policymakers worldwide.
Insights from the Pakistan 2026 Multi-Band Spectrum Auction
Pakistan’s 2026 spectrum auction released unprecedented volumes of spectrum. This Insight provides an insider perspective on the multi-band award, drawing on Coleago’s direct involvement in supporting a successful bidder, and explores the auction design, bidding dynamics and key lessons for regulators.