The C-Band (3.3 - 4.2 GHz) is almost universally acknowledged as the major mid-band 5G frequency. But despite this agreement, there are infinite shades of difference regarding how, and how much of the spectrum is made available. Some countries award the spectrum to mobile operators on a nationwide basis, but… Read more...

Unlike many countries, the head of the US regulator for commercial spectrum, the FCC, is directly appointed by the President. This means that each change of Administration results in a new Chair. The last Chair, Ajit Pai, took an energetic approach to spectrum management. He quickly implemented the 600 MHz… Read more...

The C-Band, comprising frequencies around 3.5 GHz, are widely considered crucial for 5G networks. Canada's nationwide operators, only able to bid on a limited portion of the 3450 - 3650 MHz, competed aggressively this Summer and ended up paying an average of $2.61/MHz/POP, a new record for the band. The… Read more...

Innovation often occurs in different places at roughly the same time. Electromagnetic induction, for example, was discovered in both Britain and the US independently in the early 19th century. Frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology was also developed separately by several engineers in the first half of the 20th century, including Austrian-born… Read more...

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many holiday-makers to cancel foreign holidays and stick to domestic "staycations". But two billionaires in the last month have foregone foreign trips altogether and chosen "space tourism" instead. Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos trips to space are emblematic of wider excitement about the satellite industry. Back… Read more...

PolicyTracker’s longest-running course, Understanding Modern Spectrum Management, features some of the leading thinkers in the field and is being held online this year on 13 - 17th  September. It is taught in live and interactive three-hour sessions with trainers including Professors Martin Cave, William Webb and Gerard Pogorel, as well… Read more...

Auctions may have become the default way to assign spectrum, but the last quarter saw just as many beauty contests. A total of 11,076 MHz of changed or new entries were included in the latest update to the PolicyTracker Spectrum Database (PSD), including an equal number of beauty contests and auctions.… Read more...

Don't miss our Valuing the Spectrum online course immediately followed by the Spectrum Auctions Masterclass being held in the third week of October. These two-day courses are essential for anyone involved in buying or selling spectrum licences and there is a discount for booking them together. Valuing the Spectrum is… Read more...

One of the clearest spectrum management trends in the last few years is the allocation of the 6 GHz band for licence-exempt/unlicensed services. With some notable exceptions (such as China), the vast majority of the G20 group, which represents around 90% of global economic activity, have made significant moves to… Read more...

The Spectrum Research Service now includes a benchmarking section featuring international comparisons on key policy issues. We start with 6 GHz unlicensed, an area of intense policy activity, following the US 2020 announcement to designate the whole 5925-7125 MHz band for unlicensed use. Some countries are following the US lead,… Read more...