All parties are discussing the use of 6GHz spectrum, the mainstream view: the most suitable for 5G

At the 7th Asia-Pacific Spectrum Management Conference held from May 24 to 27, whether the 6GHz spectrum is open for 5G use has once again become a hot topic among all parties. GSMA, the Radio Administration of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China, representatives of many operators and manufacturers believe that with the rapid development of 5G and the increasing application of data traffic, the opening of 6GHz spectrum for 5G use in the future is the general trend. Some regions said that they will balance the potential needs of wifi and 5G, and allocate 6GHz spectrum in a balanced manner.

Why is the 6GHz spectrum so hot
Why is the 6GHz spectrum so sought-after and concerned?
6GHz is the mid-frequency band in the spectrum, which can take into account the advantages of low-frequency coverage and high-frequency capacity. Similar to the current mid-band C-Band spectrum, this frequency band can achieve a good balance of coverage and capacity, and can achieve hundreds of MHz The large-bandwidth spectrum is continuously allocated. Therefore, this frequency band is of great significance for meeting the future demand for greater data traffic and solving the problems of continuous large-bandwidth allocation of mid-band spectrum below 6GHz in some countries.

The 6GHz spectrum is critical to the next development of 5G. With the further acceleration of 5G commercial use, 5G new business applications have driven the rapid growth of mobile data usage. Enhanced mobile broadband services and fixed wireless broadband services, as well as industrial applications such as smart cities and industrial manufacturing have accelerated the surge in mobile data usage. The 6GHz spectrum can not only help mobile operators to enhance the universal coverage of network connections and bridge the digital divide, but also meet the high-speed transmission and large-capacity needs of smart cities, smart transportation, and smart factories. In the next ten years, 5G networks are expected to require intermediate frequency spectrum above 2GHz to fully release their potential. With the rapid development of 5G construction and applications at present, the new frequency band planning has reached the point of urgency.


6GHz spectrum is used for 5G to become the mainstream voice of the industry
John Giusti, Chief Policy Officer of GSMA, said: "5G will drive global GDP growth of US$2.2 trillion. However, if there is not enough 6GHz licensed spectrum for 5G technology, the possibility of achieving this growth will be significantly reduced. Clearly and A clear spectrum strategy is essential, which is the key to ensuring long-term large-scale investment in critical infrastructure."

The success of 5G in the future depends on the availability of cost-effective IF spectrum. About 90% of mobile operators worldwide have deployed IF spectrum to achieve the best balance of 5G service coverage and capacity. 6GHz is particularly important in the intermediate frequency band. After WRC-19 designated 6GHz as a new agenda item determined by WRC-23 IMT, countries are exploring how to develop 6GHz as the best future mobile communication frequency band.

At the 7th Asia-Pacific Spectrum Management Conference, representatives from government operator equipment manufacturers and industry organizations suggested that governments of various countries should determine the allocation of 6GHz spectrum to 5G or its evolved network as soon as possible.

Director Zeng Fansheng of the Radio Management Bureau of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology stated at the conference that 6GHz has good propagation loss characteristics and continuous large-bandwidth spectrum, which can meet capacity and coverage requirements at the same time, and can meet the needs of different scenarios. It is the main potential candidate spectrum for future 5G networks. . For the future use of 6GHz spectrum, China is in favor of labeling its new IMT (5G or 6G) use, and will promote the maturity of the industry chain through 5G trials at 6GHz.


Thailand's NBTC recently established a 6GHz group and held a public hearing. It plans to seek industry opinions before the end of June. NBTC senior economic expert Pratompong Srinuan said that Thailand is currently considering a balanced strategy of multiple options in the 6GHz allocation.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) representative James Cameron said that Australia’s mobile network is developing rapidly, 4G has reached 99% of the population, and 5G coverage will reach 75% by mid-2021. At present, ACMA has initiated 6GHz consultation and will consider using 6GHz for wifi and 5G potential demand.

Nokia representative Guillaume Mascot said that 6GHz is the key frequency spectrum for future 5G NR network deployment: mobile networks will need 1~2 GHz of new spectrum from 2025 to 2030, and 6GHz can provide continuous large bandwidth due to its similar characteristics to 3.5GHz Experience, and can take into account coverage and capacity requirements, so 6GHz and 5G are very compatible.

Xu Weizhong, chief strategy officer of Huawei's wireless product line, believes that 5G is accelerating the reduction of coverage and experience gaps around the world, shaping a digital society, and rich spectrum resources are the key to the development of mobile networks. The 6GHz spectrum can balance capacity and coverage requirements and use it for future mobile networks, which is essential for enhancing sustainable digital development.





The best use of 6GHz is 5G
From the current point of view, the network support for the future development of the digital economy is still IMT. According to reports from China, South Korea and other countries, the average monthly mobile data traffic of each 5G user is 30-40GB, which has tripled compared to the average monthly data traffic of 4G users.

Nokia Guillaume Mascot clearly pointed out in his speech at the 7th Asia-Pacific Spectrum Management Conference that the data shows that the share of Wifi in the entire wireless network is gradually decreasing, and the experience of the fixed network in the home bandwidth is also a bottleneck. In delay-sensitive scenarios, the spectrum efficiency of 5G is more than 40% higher than that of WiFi6.

Currently, the global 5G network construction and application are in full swing. Take China as an example. As of the end of March 2021, 819,000 5G base stations have been built, accounting for more than 70% of the world, and covering all prefecture-level and above cities across the country. In 5G applications, a series of new products such as ultra-high-definition video, AR/VR, and cloud games have been continuously launched. 5G+big data+artificial intelligence+AR/VR and other technology combinations are forming emerging development models in game entertainment, event live broadcast, and residential services. High-definition video services such as 5G+4K/8K, 5G+VR/AR/MR are accelerating the development.

ITU predicts that the average monthly data traffic will reach 250GB in the next 5 to 10 years. According to research by Coleago Consulting, in order to ensure sustainable development in the next few years, Asia-Pacific countries and regions will additionally need at least 1GHz intermediate frequency spectrum. With these additional spectrum resources, mobile operators can expand 5G or 5.5G services and give full play to the potential of existing services.



Therefore, in the face of the future high-traffic demand and the higher and more demand of vertical industries, 5G needs to evolve further. For this reason, 3GPP has defined 5G-Advanced. At present, mainstream operators have started the 5G evolution route, and the 5.5G era is coming.

The industry should work together to promote the 6GHz IMT industry and lay a solid foundation for the sustainable development of mobile communications in the next ten years. At present, both WRC-19 and 3GPP NR have set up special projects, and GSMA also issued a statement calling on governments to allocate 6GHz for 5G use. It can be said that regions with well-developed 5G and the 5G industry have reached a consensus on the use of 6GHz for IMT. It is believed that in the future, more countries and regions will recognize the importance of 6GHz in the development of 5G, and thus achieve unanimous recognition.

【Editor in charge: Wei Liyan TEL: (010) 68476606】