Ericsson says pandemic may set back European 5G rollouts

A man wearing a mask walks past a 5G advert as the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) continues, London, Britain. The pandemic has led to the postponement of European 5G spectrum auctions in countries including Spain, Austria and Poland, and a UK auction scheduled for the second quarter could also be delayed. — Reuters

Ericsson AB said Europe risks falling further behind on fifth-generation networks as phone carriers postpone upgrades to the latest cellular technology due to coronavirus lockdowns.

The pandemic is already making it harder for the communications equipment supplier to deliver its services, though this had only a limited effect on operating income and cashflow during the first quarter, the company said in a statement.