EU Observatory: Greece receiving top marks on 5G spectrum assignment

Greece has been identified again as a top performer in the allocation of the pioneer bands for the provision of 5G services in Europe, according to the quarterly report prepared for the EU 5G Observatory.

The July 2021 report awards Greece a 100% performance on the Digital Economy Society Index (DESI) score regarding the allocation of all pioneer bands. This serves as another evidence of Greece’s great progress in the recent past for the rapid deployment of 5G services and proves that it is an ideal country for investments that will support the development of 5G services and, generally, the deployment of next generation of digital services.

Greece, Germany, and Finland are the only EU member states reaching a 100% score regarding the assignment of the spectrum, while the report identifies five countries with no progress and nine countries with a score under 50%.

On a parallel note and by the end of June 2021, 5G services were available in 25 out of the 27 EU member states. IDATE, which has compiled the report, notes that 5G has been progressing at a rapid pace in other regions of the world. It is estimated there are close to 180 operators providing commercial 5G services worldwide at the end of June 2021. It should be noted that mobile 5G-ready devices were available quite early in 2019 and that at the end of June 2021, more than 600 5G devices had been announced.