Large bandwidths can be hard to find in mmWave bands

One of the great advantages of the mmWave bands are their wide bandwidths. Propagation may be limited, but at least you have plenty of spectrum to use.

But is this always true?

The GSMA, which represents mobile operators, suggests that 800 MHz is a good amount of mmWave spectrum to have. As we reveal in our Research Note, No sign of harmonized approaches to 26 and 28 GHz assignments, many mmWave assignments do not provide operators with 800 MHz each.

In Brazil, for example, operators walked away from a recent auction with either 200 MHz, 400 MHz, or 600 MHz of spectrum in the 26 GHz band.

Not all operators were so unlucky. The UAE’s two mobile operators both gained access to 1000 MHz of spectrum.

Details about spectrum assignments, and much more, are available in our 26 GHz and 28 GHz band benchmark. In addition to maps and downloadable online datasets, the new benchmark includes three Research Notes:

• 26 and 28 GHz: a global overview of recent awards
• Planned assignment of 26 and 28 GHz spectrum for IMT– regional perspective
• No sign of harmonized approaches to 26 and 28 GHz assignments

The benchmark is available to Spectrum Research Service subscribers here.