Mobile ecosystem ready to maximise use of 6 GHz as GSMA urges policymakers to unlock spectrum

Global industry ready to support large-scale deployment as upper 6 GHz emerges as a critical capacity band for future networks 

Kuala Lumpur: The global mobile ecosystem is ready to deploy services in the upper 6 GHz band, the GSMA said today, calling on policymakers to plan the spectrum for mobile use and provide the certainty needed to support future network investment, capacity and economic growth. 

Countries accounting for more than 80% of the world’s population now support mobile use of the upper 6 GHz band (6.425–7.125 GHz), following its harmonisation at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23). The band has subsequently been incorporated into national spectrum roadmaps around the world, providing the scale required to support a strong global equipment ecosystem. 

More than 60 mobile operators, device manufacturers, chipset makers, network equipment providers, and other members of the mobile ecosystem, have joined the GSMA in a unified message that the industry is ready to deliver the equipment and solutions required for large-scale deployment of upper 6 GHz networks. 

The first assignments of upper 6 GHz spectrum have already been completed, with further awards expected across EMEA, Asia-Pacific and the Americas, as individual market demand develops. The GSMA is calling on governments and regulators to include the full upper 6GHz band in clear, forward-looking spectrum roadmaps and to make it available for full-power macro-cell mobile use to meet the needs of all of their citizens. 

The upper 6 GHz band offers valuable city-wide capacity when used by full-power macro-cell mobile networks. As data traffic continues to grow, this additional mid-band spectrum is essential for meeting increasing customer demand while supporting the evolution of 5G-Advanced and the future introduction of 6G. Crucially, the band can enable the 200-400 MHz channel bandwidths expected to be required in the 6G era. 

Vivek Badrinath, Director General of the GSMA, said: “The message from the mobile ecosystem is clear: we are ready to put the upper 6 GHz spectrum to work for consumers and businesses around the world. Governments now have an important opportunity to turn international harmonisation into real-world connectivity by prioritising this spectrum for full-power mobile services. 

Upper 6 GHz represents one of the most important opportunities to secure the capacity needed for the next-generation of mobile networks, creating a clear path from 5G-Advanced to 6G. Timely, pro-investment spectrum decisions are needed to give operators the certainty to invest, to help countries deliver their national digital ambitions, and to support mobile development that is efficient, innovative and, most importantly, inclusive.”  

It is a well-established spectrum policy principle that spectrum assignments should be timely and market-driven, with balanced, pro-investment conditions that enable operators to make efficient use of the spectrum. Such an approach will help ensure that upper 6 GHz delivers its full potential for connectivity, innovation and economic growth. 

With the international framework in place and the mobile ecosystem ready to deploy, national spectrum policy is now critical to ensuring that upper 6 GHz becomes a cornerstone of sustainable future mobile connectivity.