GSMA, the trade association for the global mobile communications industry, has warmly welcomed the decisions made by governments at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23) to agree new mobile low-band spectrum (sub-1GHz) and mid-band spectrum in the 3.5GHz and 6GHz ranges, shaping the future of mobile communications.
The GSMA noted that these outcomes at the treaty conference, which has the power to change international agreements on the use of radio frequencies, will enable the mobile sector to plan the next wave of communications development for 5G-Advanced and beyond, adding that for mobile, known in the ITU as International Mobile Technology (IMT), the WRC will play a key role in spectrum harmonisation, which will ensure economies of scale and make it easier to plan new spectrum bands to accommodate data growth and deliver a sustainable connected future.
The WRC-23 decision comes in an environment where additional mid-band spectrum needs to be identified for mobile use to accommodate the growth of mobile data. Final harmonization of the 3.5 GHz band (3.3-3.8 GHz), a precursor band for 5G, has been achieved across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) and the Americas. Of particular note, a new band, the 6 GHz band (6.425-7.125 GHz), has been identified for mobile use in all ITU regions in EMEA, the Americas, and Asia Pacific. Countries representing more than 60% of the world’s population requested that WRC-23 include the identification of this band for licensed mobile use.
The GSMA calculates that 2 GHz of mid-range spectrum will be needed per market by 2030 to meet the demands of city residents and businesses around the world.
Low-band spectrum is ideal for covering large areas with low population density, making it a key resource that can enable digital equality. The GSMA believes that access to connectivity should not depend on where you live, and advances in low-band spectrum will help achieve digital equality between urban and rural areas. In low- and middle-income countries, adults living in rural areas are 29% less likely to use mobile internet compared to adults living in urban areas. The association said increased low-band capacity will help improve networks in rural areas.
City-wide capacity requires mid-band spectrum to provide the primary weight of connectivity requirements. The 3.5 GHz band is the sweet spot for 5G and is already allocated to more than 80 countries. The GSMA said at WRC-23 that further harmonization of the 3.5 GHz band will enable more countries to leverage economies of scale in their mobile ecosystems and benefit from the faster speeds offered by wideband channels in this range.
The GSMA said the 6 GHz band is the only mid-band spectrum currently available to accommodate the growing data traffic in the 5G-Advanced era. The association believes that WRC-23’s decision to unify the 6 GHz band across all ITU regions is a pivotal milestone that will bring billions of people to a unified 6 GHz mobile footprint, and will also serve as a key development catalyst for manufacturers in the 6 GHz equipment ecosystem.
The 6 GHz band is seen as potentially lucrative, and its usage rights have been a contentious issue in both the international mobile telecommunications (IMT) sector and the Wi-Fi industry. Although there is an opportunity to use the upper end of the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi services, operators argue that with the lower bands already allocated to mobile communications technologies in many countries, and 5G networks facing capacity limitations by the end of the century, mobile network operators strongly believe that allocating the higher bands to IMT would be in the best interest of customers, industry and the digital society as a whole.
WRC-23 identified the 6 GHz band as a harmonized home for expanding mobile capacity for 5G-Advanced and beyond. WRC-23 also charted a path towards achieving digital equality by defining low-band mobile use in the 470-694 MHz band for EMEA, which will enable broader signal reach and expand internet connection capacity for rural communities. WRC-23’s new low-band mobile allocations will be a key tool in breaking down barriers to digital equality and narrowing the urban-rural connectivity gap in the EMEA region.
The GSMA has long believed that as enhanced broadband, the Internet of Things (IoT) and data permeate every aspect of society, mobile networks, and 5G infrastructure in particular, will require spectrum plans that can deliver on each country’s long-term vision.
Commenting on the decisions taken at the meeting, John Giusti, GSMA Chief Regulatory Officer, said: “WRC-23 provided a clear roadmap for mobile services to continue to evolve and expand for the benefit of billions of people around the world. At GSMA, we believe that no one should be left behind in the digital age, and the decisions of WRC-23 ensure a brighter future where mobile connects communities, delivers industrial agility and drives economic growth. Implementing the decisions of WRC-23 will support global digital ambitions, increase digital equality and unleash the power of connectivity.”
Luciana Camargos, head of spectrum at GSMA, added: “Today, more than half the world is connected to the mobile internet. But as mobile connectivity develops, we need to ensure that it can serve everyone. The great legacy of WRC-23 is enabling us to do that in a way that is sustainable, affordable and serves the whole planet. We can’t stop here; WRC-23 is just the starting gun, and governments need to act on its decisions to enable new mobile technologies that embrace sustainability and unlock mobile’s full potential for a better tomorrow for the planet.”
