December 2022

This report, commissioned by Ericsson, explores how to design spectrum licence renewals to help achieve Europe’s Digital Decade targets. Europe is aiming for digital transformation in the 2020s (the ‘Digital Decade’), including the extension of high-speed fixed and mobile connectivity to all citizens. However, achieving this will require significant investment from operators at a time when they face major financial pressures due to stagnating revenues and increasing capital expenditure. There are a large number of spectrum renewals set to occur in Europe in the coming years, providing an opportunity for policymakers to adjust spectrum licence terms. By doing so, regulators could ease financial pressure on operators and thereby promote investment to meet the Digital Decade and European Green Deal targets. In this report, we discuss best practices for spectrum renewal processes and spectrum pricing which, if followed, will enable policymakers to increase the likelihood of achieving their aims for the Digital Decade.