While operators in Europe and India complain about high spectrum costs, those in China and Japan receive 5G spectrum on a beauty contest basis. They are allocated their licenses for free, in return for producing strong roadmaps to deploy new networks quickly and in a way that will support national broadband objectives. The three Chinese MNOs have now received their first 5G licenses, but they have their own challenges too. The government has awarded a fourth license, introducing a new entrant, the cable TV provider China Broadcasting Network, to the market. The decision to increase competition, and to award the license earlier than expected, is seen as part of the escalating trade war with the US, which is heavily focused…