5G Americas has published "5G Americas Spectrum Recommendations for the U.S.," a white paper recommending licensed wireless spectrum and steps for the progression and deployment of 5G technologies in the U.S.
5G services are already in various stages of trials and deployment in the U.S. and are expected to cover a wide range of applications, which will drive a variety of deployment scenarios. The physical characteristics of spectrum lead to some applications being more suitable for, and expected to be deployed in, certain spectrum, including low, mid and high band. Each of these spectrum ranges has specific characteristics that make them most suitable for certain deployment scenarios: low band for large-area coverage, mid band for urban deployment and increased capacity, and high band for limited coverage and very high capacity. No single band can meet every 5G requirement and fulfill the promises of 5G.
5G spectrum plans in the U.S. have been focused on the millimeter wave spectrum above 24 GHz. While millimeter wave frequencies provide large bandwidth necessary for enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), their fundamental propagation challenges prevent them from being an appropriate means for large-area coverage. The success of 5G depends on 5G availability everywhere, which requires spectrum of all types and ranges.
The 11-page 5G Americas report makes recommendations to policymakers regarding licensed spectrum in the U.S., including spectrum
- Below 3 GHz
- 3.1 to 3.55 GHz
- The Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band
- 3.7 to 24 GHz
- Above 24 GHz and
- Above 95 GHz
The recommendations provided by 5G Americas are specific to the U.S.; however, they have global ramifications. The importance of globally harmonized licensed spectrum is essential to the economies of scale for equipment and roaming.
To extend the collaborative effort of the association, the 5th global 5G event, 5G New Horizons Wireless Symposium will be hosted on May 16-17, 2018 in Austin, Texas, bringing together regulators, academics, operators and leading suppliers, as well as associations from China, Japan, Korea, the European Union, Brazil, Canada and the U.S. The public may attend the symposium and hear from more than 50 global leaders on a variety of topics, including the progress of 5G spectrum throughout the world.
“Licensed spectrum has been the raw material used to provide mobile and nomadic wireless services and fuel the smartphone revolution. Now with the evolution to 5G technology, far greater spectrum resources need to be identified and allocated in the U.S. 5G Americas is committed to fostering continued innovation and leadership in the Americas region and that means providing concrete spectrum recommendations in the low, mid and high bands to meet a wide variety of 5G applications and solutions.” — Chris Pearson, president of 5G Americas