Five years ago spectrum under 1 GHz was described as beachfront spectrum on the basis that it was the most valuable spectrum property available. Subsequently hype around 5G shifted regulators’ focus to mmWaves, and but in the last year, mid-band frequencies have attracted more and more attention. Read more...

With commercial deployment now very close our spectrum database has been updated to reflect the ownership of licences in potential 5G bands. Some existing licences can be used for 5G and some cannot, depending whether the service is fixed or mobile. A further complication is that in some cases a… Read more...

The ability to use 26 GHz for 5G is limited by the need to protect satellite earth observation services in 24 GHz. But what are the engineering issues behind this? Independent consultant Roberto Ercole explains how they affect the commercial prospects for the band and could influence operators as they… Read more...

Unlike the 2.4 GHz ISM band, the most attractive unlicensed spectrum for low-power IoT networks just below 1 GHz is not globally harmonised. Is better harmonisation needed and how much can be achieved? Read more...

Analysts expect mobile to dominate the market for IoT connections, but there is greater uncertainty about what this will mean for revenues.  The key question seems to be, can operators provide more than just the pipe? Read more...

November 2017 marked the half-way point between WRC-15 and WRC-19, the regular inter-governmental meeting tasked with amending the Radio Regulations. In a series of Research Notes, we take stock of global preparations for the meeting. This Note explains how the process works and we examine the agenda items in detail… Read more...

This Research Note looks at agenda items contained in Chapters 1 and 2 of the Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM) Report, principally new spectrum for High Altitude Platforms (HAPS); the identification of frequencies for some transport applications; extending the 5GHz Wi-Fi band; and terrestrial and satellite coexistence around 2 GHz. The… Read more...

This research note looks at the satellite agenda items in Chapter 3 of the CPM Report, focussing on the removal of a restriction on broadcasting-satellite services and improving spectrum access for movable earth stations and non-geostationary satellites. Read more...

This note looks at agenda items contained under Chapters 4, 5, and 6 of the Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM) report, focussing on additional spectrum for the control and tracking of satellites; protecting data uplinks from ocean buoys and weather stations; accommodating the new Global Maritime Distress Safety Systems; and making an amateur… Read more...

This concluding Research Note on WRC-19 explains the priorities of the regional bodies and how this is leading to consensus in some areas. It also explains the implications of a few bands being studied across several agenda items. Read more...