Increased demand for spectrum and a desire to use it more efficiently; as well as the emergence of new technologies and recognition of the limits of liberalisation have combined to give spectrum sharing a new importance. Read more...

The Wi-Fi and cellular industries are set to clash again at WRC-23 with the main battle over licensed and unlicensed mid-band spectrum. Read more...

WRC-23 is likely to be more important for OTT players than any previous WRC in terms of protecting and expanding their interests in license-exempt spectrum. Facebook, Google and Microsoft are focused on unlicensed spectrum and the three will not favour IMT identifications across a range of mid-band frequency ranges that… Read more...

New IMT identifications for mid-band spectrum, mobile use of UHF bands in Europe and Africa and new spectrum allocations for satellite services are prominent among the 19 Agenda Items tabled for the next World Radio Conference. Read more...

OTT players depend on cheap and ubiquitous broadband access. They promote this by campaigning for unlicensed spectrum, sharing and innovative technologies which stimulate competition or connect the developing world. Read more...

Microsoft is a staunch proponent of increased spectrum sharing in order to boost rural connectivity in the US and globally. It sees significant opportunities for the use of license-exempt, lightly licensed, and shared spectrum as part of the 5G ecosystem. Microsoft is particularly focused on sub-1 GHz TV White Space… Read more...

Google and its parent Alphabet have broad interests in spectrum resources across a range of bands that are predominantly unlicensed. Google is particularly focused on mid-band 3.5 GHz and 6 GHz and mmWave 60 GHz spectrum. Google is a strong proponent of spectrum sharing and is a Charter member of… Read more...

In addition to identifying the importance of sub-1 GHz and mid-band 3.5 GHz spectrum, vendors consider that initial 5G deployments using mmWave spectrum will focus on 26 GHz and 28 GHz, followed by 40 GHz. There is more variance in vendor positions on licensed or license-exempt 5 GHz, 6 GHz… Read more...

Amazon has broad interests in spectrum resources across a range of bands that are predominantly unlicensed. Many of Amazon’s devices and services rely on unlicensed Wi-Fi spectrum as do its fulfillment centers. Its proposed drone and autonomous vehicle delivery systems will require access to spectrum. Amazon is also positioning to… Read more...

Apple supports policies that facilitate the more effective use of existing spectrum and flexible licensing frameworks, including spectrum sharing, that encourage investment and innovation. Apple is a strong proponent of more balanced spectrum policies that identify and allocate new unlicensed spectrum resources. Read more...