Operators demand upper 6GHz to ease network congestion congestion - Punch Newspapers

Mobile operators are pushing governments and regulators to make the upper 6GHz spectrum available for mobile networks as rising data traffic puts pressure on network capacity and operators prepare for the next generation of connectivity. Countries accounting for more than 80 per cent of the world’s population now support mobile use of the upper 6GHz band, which runs from 6.425GHz to 7.125GHz, according to the Global System for Mobile Communications Association. The band was identified for International Mobile Telecommunications at the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference, creating a common framework for its use in mobile networks across markets. The International Telecommunication Union says WRC-23 identified the 6.425–7.125GHz range for IMT in various countries and regions, covering technologies including 4G, 5G and future 6G services. The GSMA stated that more than 60 mobile operators, device manufacturers, chipset makers and network equipment providers had joined its call for governments to include the full upper 6GHz band in national spectrum plans and allow its use by full-power mobile networks. The Director General, GSMA, Vivek Badrinath, said the industry was ready to deploy the spectrum, but governments needed to provide greater certainty to support network investment.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on Google “The message from the mobile ecosystem is clear: we are ready to put the upper 6GHz spectrum to work for consumers and businesses around the world,” Badrinath said. The upper 6GHz band is considered valuable because it can provide additional mid-band capacity across cities without requiring operators to build an entirely new network grid. The GSMA said the 700MHz available in the band could support wide channels for 5G-Advanced and 6G services. The association said the band could support channel widths of between 200MHz and 400MHz, which it expects to become important as networks evolve towards 6G. Closing mobile gap could unlock $3.5tn – Report Minister reiterates FG’s push for nationwide fibre expansion Bosun Tijani steps down from ITU Deputy Secretary-General race The push comes as operators face continued growth in mobile data traffic driven by increasingly data-intensive services, including artificial intelligence, extended reality and video applications. The GSMA estimates that mobile networks could require an average of 2GHz to 2.5GHz of mid-band spectrum between 2035 and 2040 to meet demand in densely populated areas. In higher-demand countries, the requirement could reach 2.4GHz to 3.3GHz. The industry body has also warned that cities containing more than half of the world’s urban population could face capacity constraints by 2030 if the amount of mid-band spectrum available to mobile networks remains at current levels. Director General, GSMA, Vivek Badrinath, said upper 6GHz could provide a path from 5G-Advanced to 6G, but operators needed predictable spectrum policies to justify investment. “Timely, pro-investment spectrum decisions are needed to give operators the certainty to invest,” he said. The first assignments of the upper 6GHz spectrum have already been completed, with further allocations expected in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas as national demand develops, according to the GSMA. The GSMA is calling for the full band to be included in long-term spectrum roadmaps and made available for licensed, full-power mobile services. The issue is also part of a broader international effort to prepare spectrum for 6G. The ITU’s WRC-27 will consider additional frequency bands for International Mobile Telecommunications, while governments are developing national plans for the spectrum needed to support future mobile networks. Justice Okamgba Justice has over three years experience spanning digital and print media. At The PUNCH, he currently covers the automobile sector with special interest in features and industry analysis.

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