As the worldwide rollout of 5G continues, the full speed and capabilities of the network depend on the 6 GHz mid-band spectrum. However, per a GSMA release, every country is doing something different according to the organization’s recommendations, published on Monday, in conjunction with Ericsson, Huawei, Nokia, and ZTE.
Global plans differ vastly and include the following:
- China will use the entire 1200 MHz in the 6 GHz band for 5G.
- Europe will use the upper portion of the 5G band, but a new 500 MHz solution for WiFi with Africa and parts of the Middle East taking a similar approach.
- The U.S. and much of Latin America have announced they will not use the 6 GHz band for 5G, instead utilizing it for WiFi and other unlicensed technologies.
“5G has the potential to boost the world’s GDP by $2.2 trillion,” said John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer for the GSMA. “But there is a clear threat to this growth if sufficient 6 GHz spectrum is not made available for 5G. Clarity and certainty are essential to fostering the massive, long-term investments in this critical infrastructure.”
In light of the differing strategies surrounding the 6 GHz spectrum, GMSA is calling on governments to abide by the following guidelines:
- Make at least 6425-7125 MHz available for licensed 5G;
- Ensure backhaul services are protected; and
- Depending on countries’ needs, incumbent use, and fiber footprint, they could open the bottom half of the 6 GHz range at 5925-6425 MHz on a license-exempt basis with technology-neutral rules.
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