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©Copyright 2018 Global mobile Suppliers Association 1

Spectrum for 5G: Plans, Licences and Trials

Prepared by GSA based on information in the GSA Networks, Technologies & Spectrum (NTS) Database

January 2018

GSA Report | January 2018 | Spectrum for 5G: Plans, Licences and Trials

©Copyright 2018 Global mobile Suppliers Association2

This report provides a snapshot of the global status of 5G spectrum as of the end of December 2017. It analyses the major mobile markets that are moving towards 5G, with particular reference to 5G spectrum use, allocations, auctions, and trials. The report first covers recent 5G spectrum activity worldwide including auction and allocation plans. It then briefly collates information on 5G trials, and the operators that are investigating 5G around the world.

5G technologies promise the ability to serve different classes of application, using network slicing and efficient allocation of network resources, and the increasing number of 5G trials worldwide demonstrates rapid moves towards these goals. The number of countries auctioning or considering auctioning spectrum suitable for use with 5G services is also increasing. Although commercial introduction of standards-based 5G networks has some way to go, both telecom regulators and operators are aware that application requirements must be taken into consideration when allocating suitable spectrum.

In this report, we consider spectrum in specific bands in which relevant auctions and trials (both in the wide area and the laboratory) are being conducted or considered. They are as follows:

• 600 MHz • 700 MHz • 800 MHz • 900 MHz • 1400–1500 MHz • 2000 MHz • 2100 MHz • 2300 MHz • 2500 MHz • 2600 MHz

• 3300–3400 MHz • 3400–3600 MHz • 3600–3800 MHz • 3800–4200 MHz • 4400–4900 MHz • 24.25–29.5 GHz • 31.3–31.8 GHz • 37–43.5 GHz • 64–86* GHz

(*Note that some organisations identify a 66–86 GHz range but we have identified activities in the 64–66 GHz range as well and combined all such activity into one broader band.)

We have used information published by regulators and operators themselves where possible – they are not always completely specific about frequency ranges, but we have allocated them to recognised bands as closely as possible. Some of the higher spectrum bands, not currently allocated for commercial mobile



communications, are broad. It is likely that these bands will be more formally defined by national regulators and through the international harmonisation process in due course.

The data analysed for this report is taken from public domain statements by operators, regulators and vendors, collected by GSA as part of its continuous programme of research into 5G activity around the world. Data is always validated with primary sources.

Global overview

At present, 42 countries in the world are either holding consultations regarding 5G-suitable spectrum, have reserved spectrum for 5G, or have announced plans to auction frequencies in that spectrum soon. Some countries have multiple initiatives underway. In Europe, 12 countries are currently holding consultations (Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, UK) and seven countries are planning 5G spectrum auctions/allocations between 2018 and 2020 (Austria, Finland, France, Denmark, Netherlands, Poland, and Switzerland).

There are at least four countries currently actively consulting or considering options in the Asia-Pacific (India, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore) with at least eight auctions being planned (Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Pakistan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam).

Countries in the Middle East and Africa consulting on 5G spectrum or planning relevant auctions include: Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, Namibia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and UAE.

In the Americas, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and USA are also looking at the future use of spectrum suitable for 5G services.

Major market allocations and licenses

There has been vigorous activity in the 5G arena in some major telecom markets. Here we outline recent and upcoming activity by regulators and operators in China, Japan, South Korea, the USA, Australia, Europe and Brazil.

In November 2017, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued the frequency plan for the 3300–3400 MHz, 3400–3600 MHz, and 4800–5000 MHz bands for IMT-2020 (5G). It stated that the 3300–3400 MHz band would be for indoor use for 5G services. At the same time, a series of 5G

42 countries are holding

consultations, or have reserved

spectrum, or have announced plans to auction spectrum soon in

bands suitable for 5G



verification tests is being implemented by China’s IMT 2020 (5G) promotion group. The first two tests have been completed. The third set of verification tests will continue until September 2018. Many of the trials in these tests used C-band spectrum (largely around 3500 MHz), with the occasional test in the 26 GHz band.

In South Korea there has been much discussion of the use of pre-standards 5G networks and technology during the 2018 Winter Olympics, which will be held in PyeongChang. The country’s two largest operators – KT and SK Telekom – both plan live ‘5G’ networks for the event in February 2018. KT plans to use the 28 GHz band. SK Telecom has also been trialling the 28 GHz band for future 5G services, alongside the 3500 MHz band.

In Japan, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has declared that the official 5G bands in the archipelago are 3700 MHz, 4500 MHz (a maximum of 500 MHz in sub-6 GHz bands), and 28 GHz (a maximum allocation of 2 GHz bandwidth). Among the operators in the country there has been a broad mix of different spectrum used for trials, including 3500 MHz, 4500 MHz, 28 GHz, and 70 GHz.

The US decided in July 2016 to use mmWave spectrum for 5G services in the 28 GHz, 37 GHz, 39 GHz bands for licensed services (3.85 GHz bandwidth) and 64–71 GHz for unlicensed services. In November 2017, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opened an additional 1.7 GHz of spectrum in the 24 GHz and 47 GHz bands for mobile licensed use. It has also maintained all other spectrum allocations in the 28 GHz, 37 GHz and 39 GHz bands as well as the range between 64 GHz and 71 GHz. Currently, the US operators have confined their 5G trials to 28 GHz, 39 GHz and 15 GHz bands, with some of them also testing in 2.5 GHz spectrum. The US has completed an auction of 600 MHz for mobile operators and is in the process of clearing the bands; some early deployment has already commenced. The US has allocated 3550–3700 MHz for deployment under a spectrum access system (SAS) and is currently in the process of approving SAS; operation is expected in 2018 with auctions at a later date. The US has started considering 3700–4200 MHz, 5.925–6.425 GHz and 6.425–7.125 GHz for allocation. Rule-making is expected to progress in 2018. Canada is holding a consultation on a future auction in the 614–698 MHz band as well as considering mobile allocations in 28 GHz, 37 GHz; 39 GHz and 67–71 GHz.



Australia has focused initially on the 3400 MHz band. A process to distribute spectrum in that band is currently underway. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has also made public its plans to auction the 3600 MHz band for 5G use in Oct–Dec 2018 and mmWave band in Jul–Sep 2019. An auction of 1500 MHz spectrum is also expected to take place in Oct–Dec 2019. In the meantime, two of its leading operators – Telstra and Optus – have used the 26 GHz and 73 GHz bands respectively to conduct their latest 5G trials.

In Europe, considerable 5G preparatory work has focused on the 3400–3800 MHz spectrum range. Italy looks set to be one of the most active countries in terms of 5G trials after its Ministry of Economic Development made frequencies available for trialling pre-standards 5G. Five leading operators in the country have expressed intent to trial 5G in the 3600–3800 MHz band. Many other spectrum bands are also being investigated for 5G though, including 700 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2600 MHz, 4650–4850 MHz, 15 GHz, 24.25–29.5 GHz, as well as 70 GHz.

In Brazil, the telecom regulator (ANATEL) has declared the 3500 MHz as suitable for 5G. As a whole, South America has some catching up to do when it comes to 5G trials. Some of the few tests took place in late 2017 when Movistar Argentina used 28 GHz band to conduct a 5G lab test, achieving speeds of up to 20 Gbit/s, and Claro Chile began lab tests at 27 GHz.

Collected 5G spectrum activity

Table 1 summarises, by region and country, all the 5G spectrum activity collected by GSA in the course of its research programme. This includes bands being considered for 5G, soon to be auctioned, considered for auction, and those already granted to operators. It excludes temporary licences awarded for the purpose of trialling / testing 5G networks (this latter category is covered in our analysis of 5G trials).



Table 1: Summary of 5G spectrum activity

Region Country

Authority Frequencies proposed or being (formally) considered, or licensed for 5G (excludes temporary trial licences)

APACAustralia Australian

Communication and Media Authority (ACMA)

1500 MHz; 3400 MHz; 3600 MHz; 26 GHz

China MIIT China has issued the frequency plan with 3300–3400 MHz; 3400–3600 MHz; 4800–5000 MHz for 5G uses. Additional testing has been done at 26 GHz

Hong Kong Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA)

3400–3700 MHz; 24.25–28.35 GHz

Indonesia Badan Regulasi Telekomunikasi Indonesia (BRTI)

28 GHz

Japan MIC 3400–3600 MHz; 70 GHZ; 39 GHz; 15 GHz. Official 5G bands: 3700 MHz, 4500 MHz (max 500 MHz in sub-6 GHz), and 28 GHz (max 2 GHz)

New Zealand Radio Spectrum Management

600 MHz; 1427–1518 MHz; 3410–3690 MHz; 24.25–27.5 GHz

Pakistan Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)

3500 MHz

Singapore Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)

800 MHz; 1427–1518 MHz; 3400–3600 MHz; 24.25–29.5 GHz; 31.8–33.4 GHz; 37–43.5 GHz; 45.5–50.2 GHz; 66–76 GHz; 81–86 GHz.

South Korea Ministry of Science and ICT

3400–3700 MHz; 26.5–29.5 GHz

Thailand NBTC 2600 MHzVietnam Ministry of

Information and Communications

2300 MHz; 2600 MHz

EMEAAustria Austrian Regulatory

Authority for Broadcasting and Telecommunications (RTR)

3400–3800 MHz

Bahrain TRA 3400–3600 MHz



Region Country


Belgium Belgian Institute for Post and Telecommunications (BIPT)

3400–3800 MHz

Bulgaria Communications Regulation Commission (CRC)

3600 MHz

Czech Republic CTU 700 MHz, 3600–3800 MHzDenmark Danish Energy

Agency700 MHz; 900 MHz; 2300 MHz

Egypt NTRA 3400–3600 MHzFinland Finnish

communications regulator (Ficora)

3400–3800 MHz (; 24.25–27.5 GHz

France Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Posts (ARCEP)

3400–3800 MHz

Germany Bundesnetzagentur 2000 MHz, 3400–3700 MHz

Greece Hellenic Telecommunications & Post Commission

24.5–26.5 GHz1

Hungary National Media and Infocommunications Authority

700 MHz, 3400–3800 MHz, 26 GHz

Ireland Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg)

3600 MHz; 26 GHz2

Italy Communications Guarantee Authority (AGCOM)

3500 MHz; 3600–3800 MHz

Latvia Public Utilities Commission

3400–3450 MHz; 3650–3700 MHz3

Morocco L'Agence Nationale de Réglementation des Télécommunications (ANRT)

3400–3600 MHz4

Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs

Planned auction of 700 MHz, 1400 MHz and 2100 MHz; considering 3500 MHz

Poland Ministry of Digitization

700 MHz, 3400-3800 MHz, 26 GHz



Region Country


Qatar CRA 3400–3600 MHzRomania National Authority

for Management and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM)

3410–3420 MHz, 3510–3520 MHz; and 3450–3465 MHz, 3550–3565 MHz

Russia Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications

25.25–29.5 GHz5

Saudi Arabia CITC 3400–3600 MHzSlovakia RTR 3600–3800 MHz; 26 GHz; 29 GHz6Spain The Ministry of

Energy, Tourism and Digital Agenda (MINETAD)

700 MHz; 1500 MHz; 3600–3800 MHz

Sweden Swedish Post and Telecom Authority

3400–3800 MHz; 24.25–27.5 GHz

Switzerland Swiss Federal Council

700 MHz; 1400 MHz; 3500–3600MHz; 3600–3800 MHz; 2600 MHz

UAE TRA 1427– 1518 MHz, 3300 MHz – 3800 MHz; 24.25-27.4 GHz; 40 GHz

UK Ofcom 700 MHz; 3600–3800 MHz; “above” 24 GHz; 57-66 GHz; 64-66 GHz; above 92 GHz

CALABrazil Brazilian Telecom

Regulator (Anatel)3500 MHz; 2300 MHz

North AmericaMexico Federal Institute of

Telecommunications (IFT)

600 MHz (614–698 MHz)

Canada Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)

614–698 MHz; 28 GHz; 37 GHz; 39 GHz; 64–71 GHz

USA FCC 600 MHz; 2.5 GHz; 3.55–3.7 GHz; 3.7-4.2 GHz; 5.925–7.125 GHz; 24 GHz; 28 GHz; 37 GHz; 39 GHz; 47 GHz7

1: Awarded; 2: Has awarded 3600 MHz spectrum to operators it specified as suitable for 5G; 3: Licensed for 5G; 4: Considering; 5: Allocated for use during the 2018 World Cup; 6: 3600-3800 MHz awarded for non-specific purposes; 7: 600 MHz awarded



Popular frequency bands being considered or used for 5G networks and trials

Worldwide, in terms of total activity, the most common frequency band being considered for use for 5G technology is the 3400–3600 MHz band. At present 32 countries have either announced auctions in that band or are holding consultation talks (this figure excludes countries with operators granted temporary testing licences, accounted for separately under our trials analysis).

The next most common band is the 3600–3800 MHz range and then the 24.25–29.5 GHz range with 20 and 17 countries auctioning, or consulting on use of, this spectrum respectively. At present, telecom regulators around the world are either auctioning or considering auctioning spectrum in 18 different spectrum bands for future 5G services, ranging from 600 MHz to 64–86 GHz.Figure 1: Count of countries where there is regulator 5G activity, per band, based on regulator proposals, consultations or spectrum allocations (excludes temporary allocations for testing / trialling purposes)

Figures 2, 3, and 4 on following pages show those countries where there is activity in the three most popular bands identified above.

32 countries have announced auctions or are consulting on proposals for

use of the 3400–3600 MHz

band for 5G



Figure 2: Countries where the 3400–3600 MHz band is being considered, auctioned or awarded for 5G (excludes temporary allocations for testing / trialling purposes)

Figure 3: Countries where the 3600–3800 MHz band is being considered, auctioned or awarded for 5G (excludes temporary allocations for testing / trialling purposes)



Figure 4: Countries where the 24.25–29.5 GHz band is being considered, auctioned or awarded for 5G (excludes temporary allocations for testing / trialling purposes)

Diversity of bands being considered used or auctioned

The number of bands being used or considered for 5G differs by country. China shows the most diversity in band usage with seven different bands being used or considered. Figure 5 shows this diversity on a global map.Figure 5: Number of different proposed or allocated 5G bands/band groupings (as in Figure 1 above) per country (excludes temporary allocations for testing / trialling purposes)



Spectrum auctions and allocations

Several counties are already actively planning allocations of specific spectrum for 5G uses. Australia has stated that it sees the 3600 MHz band being the most likely candidate for 5G services and plans an auction for the band in 2018. Australia auctioned spectrum in the 3400 MHz band on a technology neutral basis in 2017. The US completed an auction of 600 MHz spectrum in 2017 and is considering a consultation on the use of 5925–7125 MHz spectrum. Other countries are also planning 2018 for 5G band allocations. Table 2 summarises the state of the 5G spectrum auction planning process around the world.Table 2: Planned 5G spectrum auctions/allocations

Country Authority Details DateAustralia ACMA Planned auction of 3600 MHz band Oct–Dec 2018Australia ACMA Planned auction of mmWave bands Jul–Sep 2019Canada ISED Planned auction of mmWave bands TBCCzech Republic 700 MHz TBCFrance ARCEP Planned allocation of 3400–3800

MHz bandsTBC

Hong Kong OFCA Planned allocation of 3400–3700 MHz and mmWave (24.25–28.35 GHz) bands

TBC

Latvia PUC Planned auction of the 3400–3450 MHz and 3650–3700 MHz bands

TBC

Mexico IFT Planned auction of 600 MHz TBCNetherlands Dutch Ministry

of Economic Affairs

Auction of the 700 MHz, 1400 MHz and 2100 MHz frequency bands

2019

Pakistan PTA Planned auction in 2021 2021Poland Digitization

MinistryPlanned allocation of 700 MHz for 5G, 3400–3800 MHz and 26 GHz

2020 and 2021

South Korea Ministry of Science and ICT

Planned auction of 3.5 GHz and 28 GHz bands

2018

Spain Ministry of Energy, Tourism & Digital Agenda

3600–3800 MHz, 1500 MHz 2018

Switzerland Swiss Federal Council

Planned auction of: 700 MHz band; 1400 MHz band; 3.5–3.6 GHz and 3.6–3.8 GHz band

2H 2018

Thailand NBTC Planned auction of 2.6 GHz band 2018UK Ofcom Planned auction of 2300 MHz,

3400–3800 MHz band; and 700 MHzTBC

US FCC Planned auction of mmWave frequencies

2018

US FCC Planned auction of 3550–3700 MHz TBC



5G trials

Whilst formal licensing or allocations of spectrum for use in delivery of 5G services is still at a nascent stage, many operators are already actively trialling 5G technologies using spectrum that has been identified as suitable for 5G applications.

GSA has identified 113 operators that have been involved in or are planning 5G trials (including trials where we have been unable to identify the spectrum used), representing 56 countries. Operators in USA and Japan have been the most active, followed by China, South Korea, Italy, UK and Germany. So far, few trials have been conducted in Latin America or Africa. The GSA’s report 5G Status: Global Market Trials provides more detailed information, including an analysis of spectrum bands used in those trials. Figure 6 maps trial activity around the globe.

Figure 6: Map of 5G trials around the world

113 operators in 56 countries

have been involved in or

are planning 5G trials



Figure 7: Number of 5G trials – leading nations

Sixty-two telecom operators in 32 countries have been actively involved in 5G trials where we know the spectrum bands used. We have identified operators in 19 countries in EMEA that have been or are currently trialling 5G services in identified spectrum bands. It is interesting to note that 15 mobile operators in Slovakia have recently been awarded licences in the 5G-suitable 3600–3800 MHz band by the country’s Office for Regulation of Electronic Communications & Postal Services. However, it is currently unclear if they are planning to use their frequency allocations for 5G trials soon. In the Asia-Pacific region, operators in nine countries are or have been trialling using 5G-suitable frequencies. Operators in Argentina, Canada, Chile, USA have also staged 5G trials in spectrum that could potentially be used for 5G. These regions and countries are expected to take the lead in introducing the new technology.

See the GSA report 5G Update – Global Market Trials for more detail about the 5G trials occurring around the world.



About GSA

GSA (the Global mobile Suppliers Association) is a not-for-profit industry organisation representing companies across the worldwide mobile ecosystem engaged in the supply of infrastructure, semiconductors, test equipment, devices, applications and mobile support services.

GSA actively promotes the 3GPP technology road-map – 3G, 4G, 5G – and is a single source of information resource for industry reports and market intelligence. GSA Members drive the GSA agenda and define the communications and development strategy for the Association.

Membership of GSA is open to any supplier of products; systems or services related to the mobile industry and brings many benefits including access to the GAMBoD database. The range of benefits includes enhanced discussion, networking and influencing opportunities on the key industry topics, and unique promotional/visibility opportunities for your company name, capabilities, positioning and messages. More details can be found at https://gsacom.com/gsa-membership/

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