GSMA Praises 6GHz Guidance from EU Spectrum Group

The GSMA praised the guidance on apportioning the upper 6GHz spectrum for mobile use from the European Commission’s Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG). The move could potentially boost 6G plans.

Prioritizing mobile industry spectrum requirements highlights a recognition of the sector’s future needs along with an understanding that current approaches are insufficient, the GSMA stated in a response to RSPG guidance issued earlier this month. The RSPG guides EC radio spectrum policy decisions through opinions and reports. The group comprises representatives of European Union member states, along with those of the European Economic Area and European Free Trade Association. In the RSPG’s opinion, either 665MHz or 700MHz of spectrum in the 6.425GHz to 7.250GHz range will ultimately be allocated to mobile use. The GSMA stated this would be sufficient for 6G launches because it would meet the 200MHz minimum operators require.

The GSMA also highlighted RSPG moves to boost the amount of priority spectrum open to mobile operators from 540MHz in the 6.585GHz to 7.125GHz range currently by making provision to add 160MHz in the 6.425GHz to 6.585GHz range or 125MHz in the 7.125GHz to 7.25GHz after the World Radiocommunication Conference 2027 (WRC-27), scheduled to run from October to November of the same year. It argued the current priority allocation would “have fallen short of what is required” to deliver advanced mobile networks.

The GSMA noted that other regions have allocated the entire upper-6GHz band to mobile services, allowing for at least 700MHz of capacity even before WRC-27, and maintained pressure on European authorities over accessing the frequencies. It stated that Europe needs to strengthen its position in quality, speed, and resilience of mobile networks to remain competitive with other regions, adding that access to sufficient spectrum is vital for connectivity goals and growth.