Polish cellco P4, which operates under the Play brand, says it wants to launch 5G services without waiting for an auction of new spectrum. Instead, it will use frequencies it already holds in the 2100MHz band, which were originally allocated for 3G services. Play is reportedly hoping to introduce 5G services in the tri-city area of Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot early next year. Gazeta Wyborcza writes that the cellco has already applied to telecoms regulator the Office of Electronic Communications (Urzad Komunikacji Elektronicznej, UKE) for permission to utilise its 3G spectrum for 5G services.
5G-capable frequencies in the 3.6GHz band are expected to be auctioned in 2020, while all of the country’s four main cellcos are looking to collaborate on the deployment of a shared 5G network in the 700MHz band.