Italy’s regulator has signalled support for extending 5G spectrum rights to 2037, an inevitable response to the financial pressure facing mobile operators
Italy’s telecoms regulator Agcom is preparing to extend existing 5G spectrum licences by eight years, avoiding a new auction and advancing a policy the market has argued is essential for sector stability. According to Reuters, Agcom’s board has given initial backing to renewing usage rights that expire in 2029, with a formal framework to follow after further consultation in 2025.
Operators overwhelmingly supported renewal during a recent public consultation, preferring it to a fresh auction that could repeat the aggressive bidding seen in 2018, when Italian operators spent €6.5 billion. The sector has struggled ever since, with revenues shrinking by almost a third since 2010 due to sustained price competition. Operators have been lobbying for a no-cost or low-cost renewal to prioritise network upgrades over spectrum fees, according to the report.
CorCom reported that Agcom has now consolidated its position in favour of renewing rights across multiple bands, including 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2600 MHz and 3.4–3.6 GHz, and extending 28 GHz spectrum to the end of 2037. The renewal would be conditional on strengthened coverage obligations, including quality parameters such as latency and connection density, and enhanced wholesale access obligations.
These access requirements would apply to operators with larger spectrum holdings – Fastweb–Vodafone, TIM and Wind Tre – to support rivals and MVNOs through mechanisms such as spectrum sharing and network slicing. A third Agcom consultation is now expected early next year to refine the technical and economic conditions, before the regulator issues its final opinion to the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (Mimit).
Government support
Leading up to the Agcom decision, Milano Finanza wrote that the government was also weighing options to support the renewal. One proposal under discussion is allowing operators to offset 5G-related capital expenditure against spectrum fees. The newspaper reported that Mimit has convened a meeting with Asstel and unions to assess sector needs and determine whether such a mechanism should be included in the budget law.
Some political voices argue it may be possible to proceed without explicit legislation, but operators reportedly see formal recognition as important.
The second Agcom consultation, due to be published by year-end, is expected to confirm market preference for a full renewal, a scenario favoured by TIM, Fastweb–Vodafone and Wind Tre. Iliad, however, is said to prefer a partial auction limited to under-represented operators, given its smaller share of the expiring spectrum. A final round of consultation early next year will address how to rebalance holdings if the existing allocation is extended, according to the report.
If confirmed, the extension to 2037 would provide operators with greater certainty to invest in 5G standalone networks, which require significant infrastructure upgrades. The government has indicated it does not intend to use spectrum policy primarily as a revenue tool, signalling a shift towards supporting the long-term health of a sector facing persistent financial strain.
