PolicyTracker’s updated 3.3-4.2 GHz benchmark tracks the status of spectrum policies related to this mid-band range across 122 countries and territories that continue to progress assignments for IMT/5G use, along with a growing number of nations that are earmarking spectrum for use on a localised basis. While the assignment of… Read more...

Nations in Africa represent fourteen percent of the nations and territories included in PolicyTracker’s updated 3.3-4.2 GHz benchmark, including seven new nations in the region. In Africa, the amount of spectrum assigned in the 3.5 GHz range is in the order of 200 to 300 MHz, with spectrum assigned per… Read more...

Nations in the Americas represent nineteen percent of the nations and territories included in PolicyTracker’s updated 3.3-4.2 GHz benchmark. Twenty-three nations in the region are now included the benchmark, with nine new nations included. Regulators in the region are typically assigning between 200 to 500 MHz of 3.5 GHz of… Read more...

Nations in Asia represent twenty-three per cent of the nations and territories included in PolicyTracker’s updated 3.3-4.2 GHz benchmark. There are 3.5 GHz assignment activities in 28 nations in the region, with 19 of these focused exclusively on the 3.3-3.6 GHz range. Ten new countries in the region are now… Read more...

Forty-six nations in Europe are included in PolicyTracker’s updated 3.3-4.2 GHz benchmark, including nine new nations. All nations in the region have assigned or plan to assign spectrum within the 3.1/3.4-3.8 GHz range, while 10 nations are targeting the release of spectrum above 3.8 GHz. There is also traction in… Read more...

Nations in the Middle East represent seven per cent of the nations and territories included in PolicyTracker’s updated 3.3-4.2 GHz benchmark. Nations in the region have generally assigned 300 to 400 MHz of 3.5 GHz spectrum, with 100 MHz of spectrum assigned per operator representing the norm. 3.5 GHz policies… Read more...

PolicyTracker’s 3.3-4.2 GHz benchmark spans 122 nations and territories that have assigned or plan to assign spectrum in the range. Across these assignments, there is a wide range of bandwidths in terms of total MHz amounts assigned, amounts assigned per operator and specific frequency ranges prioritised for assignment. There are… Read more...

While all of the vendors profiled in 2024 recognise the continued importance of both low-band and mmWave spectrum for both 5G and 6G, their clear focus is repurposing existing low mid-band spectrum and the release of new licensed spectrum in frequency ranges above 7 GHz. The greatest disparity in vendor… Read more...

Qualcomm argues that fully cleared, exclusively licensed spectrum remains the top priority for the wireless industry to support the continued rapid rollout of 5G and 6G. At the same time, Qualcomm considers that unlicensed spectrum plays an important role in Wi-Fi operations in homes and businesses. It stresses the need… Read more...

While Samsung supports unlicensed lower 6 GHz spectrum, its focus is on the harmonisation and release of additional mid-band spectrum for 5G and ultimately 6G. In February 2023, Samsung announced its plans to move into the satellite connectivity space. In January 2024, South Korea’s MSIT awarded frequencies in the 4.7… Read more...