One of the main reasons to move to 5G New Radio rather than enhance 4G for a few more years – the only reason for many operators – is to be able to use additional spectrum bands in a standard way, and so expand the capacity available for mobile broadband. This advantage is overplayed in many regions, such as Europe, where most MNOs are using very little of their existing mid-band spectrum, including 2.6 GHz airwaves purchased for LTE. However, the charge into mid-band and even millimeter wave (mmWave) frequencies for high capacity 5G is being driven by operators with a genuine spectrum squeeze, including some in north America, and by the general need, in developed markets, to address congested…