As a follow up to the Analysys Mason study that showed the U.S. behind in mid-band spectrum allocations for 5G, CTIA, the wireless industry association, directed Accenture to identify additional spectrum to address the frequencies needed by the U.S. commercial wireless industry.
The report, titled Spectrum Allocation in the United States, analyzes the current state of radio spectrum allocation, the increasing need for licensed spectrum in the wireless industry and the paths forward to support mobile broadband and 5G network expansion.
The study finds that the following three blocks of lower mid-band spectrum offer the greatest potential for 5G expansion, including 350 MHz in the 3.1-3.45 GHz band.
“The lower 3 GHz band offers reliable coverage and adequate range of coverage, making it ideal for 5G data traffic,” the report reads. “This band is adjacent to the recently auctioned 3.45 GHz band, which would help drive lower costs for device manufacturers when developing products for a wider contiguous band.”
Next up for consideration by the report, is a 400 MHz contiguous block in the 4.4-4.94 GHz band, which has been allocated to wireless carriers in other nations. “A similar allocation in the U.S. would support international harmonization efforts yielding cost benefits,” the report reads.
Another contender for wireless use is a 400 MHz higher frequency block of spectrum in the 7.125-8.4 GHz band, which would provide high capacity communications for serving densely populated areas in urban centers.
The study notes that the U.S. wireless industry currently has access to 5 percent of lower mid-band spectrum, while unlicensed spectrum users have access to 7x and government users have access to 12x that amount. Allocating these three bands for commercial wireless use would even that out, giving unlicensed users access to 1.19x and government users access to 1.34x the amount of spectrum as commercial wireless users, according to the study.
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