26 GHz offers fertile ground for private networks

What do we talk about when we talk about private networks? Frequencies between 3.3 and 4.2 GHz, usually.

However, the 26 GHz band should not be overlooked. According to our updated private networks benchmark, over a quarter (27 per cent) of all spectrum assigned for private networks is in this range and just under a quarter (24 per cent) when planned assignments are included. Countries in all regions of the world except the Middle East have identified spectrum in the range for localised use.

This might be surprising when one considers that the band is widely seen as the “ugly sister” of the 5G pioneer bandsThe 5G pioneer bands are a set of spectrum… identified by the European Union’s Radio Spectrum Policy GroupRSPG stands for the Radio Spectrum Policy ….

It’s only been assigned by around half of the 27 EU Member States. Poland’s mobile network operators told their national regulator earlier this year they didn’t want any 26 GHz spectrum until 2026 at the earliest. Industry players such as Ericsson, the GSMA and Qualcomm recently told the European Commission that the entire pioneer band initiative was flawed.

In July 2024, Chile’s Wom forfeited the 26 GHz concessions it received free of charge in 2022. The UK plans an auction in 2025, but only for use in the country’s 68 largest towns and cities with large populations and high levels of mobile data traffic.

For private networks, the numbers are still small. In Germany, for example, as of July 2024, 12 applications to use 26 GHz spectrum for private networks had been granted, compared to 407 in the 3.7-3.8 GHz band. In Sweden, the regulator PTS has issued four private network licences at 26 GHz, compared to 115 in the 3.6 GHz range.

But in cases such as these, spectrum has not only been assigned, it is also being used. For the 26 GHz band, that in itself is a sign of progress.

The updated Private Networks Benchmark, including research notes, maps and data, is available to Spectrum Research Service subscribers here.