Europe Bemoans Lost Edge Over Asia, U.S. in Mobile Networks

Europe is losing its edge over the U.S. and Asia in mobile technology and the industry is blaming governments for dictating how it should invest and making it pay billions of dollars for operating licenses.

A recent auction of fifth-generation mobile spectrum in Italy was a “disaster” that sends the “worst possible signal” to investors, said Stephane Richard, chief executive officer of France’s Orange SA, at the FT-ETNO telecom industry summit in Brussels.

Prices of some 5G spectrum hit a record in the auction as Italy’s cash-strapped government tapped the industry for more than $7.6 billion -- money the industry ...