By 2028, cellular network traffic is expected to grow four times compared to 2022. New spectrum needs to be allocated to the mobile networks to support such an increase in traffic, driven by new use cases and deployment scenarios such as 6G.
A 5G Americas whitepaper emphasizes that collaboration between governments, industry leaders, and global organizations is essential to unlock the full potential of the spectrum identified at WRC-23, securing a thriving future for wireless communications in the Americas and beyond.
Spectrum Outlook and WRC-23 Decisions
Compared to its global counterparts, the US mid-band spectrum lags behind the five leading countries by 202 MHz. If no new spectrum is allocated by 2027, this deficit will grow to 520 MHz.
The present lack of licensed mid-band spectrum is not expected to sufficiently improve in the next five years. Despite that, Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence data unveiled that the release of more mid-band spectrum has led to improved 5G performance and positively influenced consumer sentiment toward 5G networks offered by the three national wireless providers – Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T.
Nevertheless, the current US allocation for both low-band and high-band is seen to be more favorable with high-band frequencies, referred to as millimeter wave (mmWave), offering large bandwidths that can carry a huge amount of data with very low latency. As a tradeoff, high-band spectrum does not provide the coverage supported by mid- or low-band spectrums.
On the other hand, low-band spectrum offers the best coverage and indoor penetration, but it lacks the greater bandwidth available in mid- and high-band spectrums.
5G Americas highlighted the crucial WRC-23 decisions impacting North America, specifically regarding key spectrum bands like 3.3-3.4 GHz, 3.6-3.8 GHz, and 10-10.5 GHz. These bands are vital for boosting network capacity, coverage, and performance.
Upper mid-band frequencies – within the 7.125-15.35 GHz frequency range – are seen as the most promising for economical, wide area 6G deployments.
Additionally, WRC-23 decisions affecting Latin America include El Salvador and Jamaica adopting the 614-698 MHz band for IMT. The 10-10.5 GHz band, supported by twelve Latin American countries, has been designated for IMT use but is limited to microcell base stations.
Only the bands 3.3 – 3.4 GHz and 3.6 – 3.8 GHz are of common interest for Latin America and North America.
Recommendations
Despite progress by the ITU, the United States still faces a major challenge with its mid-band spectrum allocation. Falling behind global competitors, leading wireless associations rank the US 13th out of 15 top global markets for licensed mid-band spectrum.
“Spectrum is the oxygen for our industry and North America could be in a deficit soon compared to other countries in the world. Collaboration between governments, industry, and international bodies is essential to ensure that the spectrum identified at WRC-23 is available under suitable regulatory conditions,” said Brian Daly, AT&T Fellow and AVP of Standards & Industry Alliances and working group leader on the white paper.
To capitalize on WRC-23 outcomes, it is recommended that North America focuses on ensuring that the identified spectrum bands are available under suitable regulatory conditions to support innovative wireless ecosystems. This includes advocating for the allocation of additional mid-band spectrum for 6G and addressing the spectrum deficit compared to other regions to remain competitive in the global market.
“As cellular connectivity demands increase, industry stakeholders must collaborate to maintain North America's leadership in wireless technology. Securing ample spectrum is about investing in North America’s future and meeting the growing needs of consumers and businesses,” said Alexander Brock, Senior Vice President Strategy and Partnership, Rogers.
With the advancements in antenna technology, upper mid-band can be utilized to provide similar coverage as the current 5G networks that are deployed in 3-4 GHz range without increasing antenna aperture size.
Moreover, mmWave spectrum will continue to be used to provide high-capacity mobile communications in hotspot scenarios. Expansion to sub-THz bands may be needed to support even higher data rates, such as fixed links, wireless data centers, and new use cases associated with positioning and sensing.
“It is crucial to prepare for WRC-27 by engaging in studies and regulatory planning to secure spectrum for future technologies, ensuring North America’s continued leadership in global telecommunications," said Karri Kuoppamaki, Senior Vice President, Advanced and Emerging Technologies, T-Mobile.
Regulators Take Action
The 5G Americas whitepaper also cited several spectrum initiatives within the government. As part of evaluating the country’s spectrum pipeline, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released the National Spectrum Strategy (NSS) in November 2023 to establish spectrum priorities in upcoming years.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently approved rules for the Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS) framework in the US. This framework allows satellite operators to use radio signals from terrestrial mobile providers to connect smartphones in areas without mobile service, expanding wireless coverage to remote regions.
Canadian operators are also working on satellite-to-phone services with existing phones to reach areas beyond terrestrial coverage, with ongoing discussions for regulatory support with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED).
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