Europe’s 5G mmWave auctions are taking shape and the approaches vary from delay in Poland to full steam ahead in the UK
Italy’s telecoms regulator AGCOM has unanimously approved new procedures and rules for assigning the 24.25-26.5 GHz spectrum band. Announced following the 7 October meeting of its governing council under Delibera 232/25/CONS, the decision marks a key milestone in Italy’s development of ultra-broadband wireless networks.
AGCOM’s regulation addresses a gap in Italy’s spectrum roadmap. While the upper portion of the 26 GHz band (26.5–27.5 GHz) had already been allocated in 2018 – alongside the 700 MHz and 3.6–3.8 GHz bands – the newly adopted rules now cover the lower block. The authority states that its objective is to furnish the market with a long-term and stable regulatory environment for investment, particularly in systems such as Fixed Wireless Access (FWA).
Significantly, the new regime provides for competitive assignment of usage rights via a procedure broadly consistent with the approach used in 2018 for the upper portion of the band, a design intended to mitigate distortions in competitive dynamics. However, AGCOM has introduced flexibility: successful bidders may pay in annual instalments, and may access a discount on reserve price if they meet specified deployment milestones.
AGCOM has also taken account of legacy users: those currently relying on the lower 26 GHz block for Wireless Local Loop (WLL) services will be permitted to continue operations for a further two years, with phased migration towards newer 5G systems.
For operators like EOLO, the long-awaited move will be seen positively. The operator had been pushing for a further extension until 2026 for existing users to continue operating under the current conditions, citing concerns over the economic and geopolitical environment, and the need for realistic timelines for refarming.
EOLO had also been emphasising that the 26 GHz band is not only for mobile services but is also important for FWA / WLL services. The operator argued that especially in rural and low-density areas, FWA is a very relevant use-case because fibre deployment is often too costly or slow.
In addition to its observations on the regulation, EOLO has previously made use of 26 GHz spectrum via leasing/frequency-sharing deals. Most notably, the operator obtained AGCOM and Antitrust approval to lease spectrum in the 26.5-27.5 GHz band from Fastweb. That deal allows EOLO to deploy FWA services in parts of Italy using Fastweb’s mmWave spectrum rights.
UK presses on now
This Italian move comes against a backdrop of signs of activity in the mmWave space elsewhere in Europe. In the UK, Ofcom similarly has pressed ahead with its auction of 26 GHz and 40 GHz bands, accepting applications in mid-September and scheduling the principal phase of bidding for October 2025.
Ofcom’s “Enabling mmWave Spectrum for New Uses” framework envisages making licences available in designated “High Density Areas” (HDAs), while outside such zones access will be via a shared-access regime. Unlike many earlier spectrum awards, Ofcom has opted not to impose rigid rollout or coverage obligations on licensees. The auction will cover some 5.4 GHz of spectrum, making it the UK’s largest release to date.
Unsurprisingly, BT, Telefonica UK and Vodafone are the three bidders.
By contrast, in Poland, recent announcements have pointed to a pause in mmWave auctions until 2026. The Polish regulatory authority, The Office of Electronic Communications (UKE), was told by operators in March that it is too early to allocate the 26 GHz band and should instead push this out to 2026 and beyond due to a lack of network infrastructure that can support it and a lack of devices that can use it.
Italy’s approach is therefore positioned somewhere between the UK’s full speed ahead (finally) and Poland’s caution. By embedding incentives and transitional protections for existing users, AGCOM aims to strike a balance between encouraging deployment and preserving market stability.
