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26 GHz and 28 GHz: the gap seems to be narrowing

A row between members of a small community can be very divisive and many feared the failure to make 28 GHz an ITU 5G candidate band would lead to a serious schism. 26 GHz was included and it is these two bands which we focus on in our latest research note. There is a growing tendency to treat the two as part of the same range and increased optimism that…

Oct 27, 2017 | Spectrum Research Service Blog

A row between members of a small community can be very divisive and many feared the failure to make 28 GHz an ITUThe International Telecommunication U... 5G candidate band would lead to a serious schism.

26 GHz was included and it is these two bands which we focus on in our latest research note. There is a growing tendency to treat the two as part of the same range and increased optimism that chips might have tuning ranges large enough to cover both.

Some European countries now seem open to the possibility of using 28 GHz: what were previously hard-and-fast positions are looking increasingly flexible.

Research Notes

20 GHz-30 GHz by Martin Sims
26 GHz was selected as a possible 5G band at WRC-15 and European regulators have chosen this as a core band for the technology. China has also expressed support for the band. However, backing from the US and elsewhere means a rejected band, 28 GHz, will also be used.

5G spectrum: progress since WRC-15 by Martin Sims
Two years ago a large number of possible 5G bands were being proposed but short term plans are now focussed…

30-40 GHz by Patrick Gahan
There has been some regulatory activity in this range since nearly 6 GHz was identified for possible 5G usage at WRC-15. The competition concerns of US mobile operators also show the importance of the 37-40.5 GHz range.

40-50 GHz by Patrick Gahan
7.7 GHz in 40-50 GHz was identified for possible 5G usage at WRC-15 with wide support from both the mobile industry and its traditional foes.

50-60 GHz by Martin Sims
The ITU approved for further study just a single 5G band in 50-60 GHz. Industry is treating this as a lower priority than other neighbouring bands.

60-70 GHz by Patrick Gahan
60-70 GHz has good prospects as a long term mobile band as there is currently limited opposition.

Auction Tracker updates

Italy 3.6-3.8 GHz by Patrick Gahan
Ministry of Economic Development (MISE) 25 October 2017: Documents from the Italian Ministry of economic development seen by PolicyTracker state…

Italy 700 MHz, 3.4-3.8 GHz, 26 GHz by Kane Mumford
Ministry of Economic Development (MISE) October 25, 2017: PolicyTracker reported on 16 October 2017 that Italy was due to make…

Thailand 900 MHz, 1.8 GHz by Patrick Gahan
National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) 25 October 2017: An article from October 10 2017 mentioned that NVTC was to auction…

Ireland 26 GHz Fixed link and Fixed Wireless Access Auction by Patrick Gahan
ComReg has set out plans in a public consultation to assign spectrum in the 26 GHz band by auction before…

Italy 26 Ghz by Patrick Gahan
Ministry of Economic Development (MISE) 25 October 2017: Documents from the Italian Ministry of economic development (MISE) seen by PolicyTracker…

News articles

Poland’s auditor condemns handling of spectrum auctions and calls for legal changes by Jaroslaw Adamowski
After the failed 2015 auction, which only ended after the government intervened, Poland’s auditor says the law needs to change.…

EU member states agree that telecoms reform needs to be speeded up by Kane Mumford
As the first inter-institutional talks on the Electronic Communications Code (ECCThe Electronic Communications Code is a se...) get underway today, the European Council (representing EU member state…

Commission-backed study urges harmonised timing of EU spectrum auctions by Kane Mumford
As the European Council debates the Electronic Communications Code (ECC) today, a Commission-sponsored study recommends coordinated timing of awards but…

Project Loon provides connectivity in Puerto Rico by Kane Mumford
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has awarded Google a licence to operate its stratospheric helium balloons in Puerto Rico,…

Polish regulator considers 450 MHz auction amid political controversies by Jaroslaw Adamowski
Poland’s regulator UKE is mulling plans to sell spectrum in the 450 MHz band, but critics of the process claim…