Spectrum is a national asset. The government or designated national regulatory authority oversees spectrum use and issues licences for specific frequencies. 

Spectrum must be managed effectively to ensure it is used efficiently and delivers benefits for society. This requires careful advance planning so the resource can meet rising demand and support new use cases. For mobile spectrum, planning several years ahead helps ensure sufficient spectrum is available as demand grows. 

Releasing new spectrum for mobile is often a lengthy process because it requires coordination at international, regional and national levels. Mobile services benefit most when spectrum bands are harmonised globally through the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). International harmonisation gives mobile operators, equipment vendors and device manufacturers confidence that a band will be adopted across multiple markets. This helps create larger equipment ecosystems, lower equipment costs and improve device availability through economies of scale. Harmonisation can take many years, particularly where stakeholders need to study compatibility with existing services and build international consensus on which future bands will be used for mobile. 

Once a band has been identified internationally, governments and regulators must decide how and when to make it available nationally. This often involves updating national frequency allocation tables, consulting stakeholders and coordinating with neighbouring countries to manage potential cross-border interference. Authorities must also consider broader national policy objectives, including how spectrum can support digital connectivity, economic growth and future technology development. 

A further challenge is that existing users already occupy many candidate mobile bands, such as broadcasters, satellite operators, defence systems or other government services. Migrating these incumbents requires carefully managed transition periods to avoid service disruption. Once authorities clear incumbent services from the band, network and device ecosystems need time to mature before services can be deployed at scale. 

Spectrum bands have different characteristics, and this makes them suitable for different purposes. 

Low bands (below 1 GHz) connect rural and remote areas and help support indoor coverage. As low band signals propagate further, they help lower the digital divide between urban and rural areas and build bridges towards digital inclusion. Low bands ensure that vital services like digital healthcare and education are available to all. 

Mid-bands (1-8 GHz) provide city-wide capacity. They supply sufficient bandwidth to allow consistent connectivity in suburban and urban areas, supporting enhanced mobile broadband, industrial applications, and fixed wireless access. 

High bands or mmWave (above 24 GHz) deliver the fastest broadband speeds and lowest latencies in high-demand areas. Their range is limited, but mmWave hotspots ensure that capacity is available in the densest areas like train stations and stadiums. They also enable local networks and advanced applications such as smart factories. 

A balanced mix of spectrum can ensure that all users have strong quality of service, and innovation can flourish across a country – regardless of the location. 

Mobile networks require more spectrum to continue serving the needs of consumers and enable new applications. The GSMA estimates that countries will need an average of 2-2.5 GHz of mid-band spectrum by 2035-2040. In higher-demand countries (representing the top 50% of countries globally) spectrum needs will be 2.4-3.3 GHz in that period. Considering existing IMT allocations, where most countries identify between 1-2 GHz of mid-band spectrum for mobile use, this means that an additional mid-band requirement of 1-2 GHz is needed.  

The primary mid-bands currently under consideration for additional mobile spectrum are from within the: 

• 3.8-4.2 GHz range 

• 4.4-4.99 GHz range 

• Upper 6 GHz range (6.425-7.125 GHz) 

• 7.125-8.4 GHz range. 

As 6G deployment accelerates in mid-bands, complementary low-band capacity will be essential to extend coverage into rural areas, enhance indoor performance, and promote digital equality. The 470-694 MHz range provides the propagation characteristics needed to deliver affordable, wide-area connectivity for all communities. 

Further information can be found in our Vision 2040: Future Spectrum Needs report.

The value of spectrum is not measured by the price paid for a licence, but by the economic and social value created by the networks that use it. Spectrum pricing has a direct impact on operators’ ability to invest in network infrastructure and deliver high-quality mobile services. 

Evidence shows that excessive spectrum costs reduce network quality and coverage. Policymakers should therefore focus on ensuring spectrum is made available at prices that reflect its underlying commercial value and support investment, innovation and sustainable mobile network growth. This approach maximises the broader economic and social benefits of connectivity rather than prioritising direct government revenue from spectrum fees. 

Read more about the importance of spectrum pricing here.