The upper 6 GHz band (6.425–7.125 GHz) is seen by mobile operators as the foundation for the next phase of mobile evolution. Its use has been the focus of industrial development and regulatory activity, including the decisions at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23). It offers wide channel bandwidths for MNOs to deliver city-wide capacity, including the 200–400 MHz channels that will be required for 6G. The upper 6 GHz today has a harmonised footprint covering over 80% of the global population.
The identification of 6.425–7.125 GHz in EMEA and countries in APAC and the Americas, alongside the global harmonisation of technical and regulatory conditions for the band, was one of the important outcomes of WRC-23. Since WRC, countries have moved on to identifying the band nationally, alongside the earliest assignments to operators.
Enabling the band can support national digital ambitions – from economic growth to environmental goals – and can support mobile development that is inclusive, efficient and innovative. For most of the world, the upper 6 GHz will form the next capacity solution for mobile, alongside 3.8–4.2 GHz and bands being discussed at WRC-27. The licensed mobile upper 6 GHz band sits above the lower 6 GHz band (5.925–6.425 GHz), which is often used for unlicensed technologies, including Wi-Fi. With mobile in the upper 6 GHz, and Wi-Fi in the lower part, both technologies have the spectrum capacity to evolve.
Mid-bands like the upper 6 GHz provide city-wide coverage and cater for around 80% of indoor capacity in the urban areas they cover (where mobile is predominantly used indoors). They will also deliver a lot of the capacity required for enterprise digitalisation and industrial connectivity.
6 GHz is now the harmonised home for the future of mid-band capacity. Countries that support this can build a clear roadmap towards future connectivity. With it, they can help deliver fast, affordable mobile broadband, lower the usage gap and narrow the digital divide.
Progress for the 6 GHz band
6 GHz momentum has been growing. Hong Kong’s regulator OFCA made history by becoming the first to auction the band, while the UAE became the first country in the world to assign the full upper part of the band to its operators through an administrative process.
In Australia, regulator ACMA has decided to reserve the 6585–7100 MHz range for wide-area mobile broadband use to help drive the evolution of 5G. Elsewhere in APAC, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam added the full upper part of the band to their spectrum roadmap plans. Bangladesh’s new roadmap includes more than 2 GHz of mid-band spectrum, supported by 6 GHz capacity. With large Chinese population already falling under the upper 6 GHz mobile footprint, India made its own decision to support the band in 2025 and make it available for mobile.
Europe has recommended making a minimum of 665 MHz available in the wider band 6.425–7.250 GHz, with a decision pending outcomes of the next WRC.
In the Americas, Brazil and Mexico both supported the band at WRC-23 and subsequently identified the upper part of the band to IMT in their table of frequency allocations. Brazil is now considering the conditions and timeline for assigning the band to its mobile operators.
The first commercial connections are expected to be made using CPEs in 2026, with broad ecosystem deployment the following year where the capacity is needed. After years of planning, 6 GHz is beginning to become part of the fabric of mobile connectivity.
Join the debate
The debate on the use of the 6 GHz band forms part of a wider discussion on the future of connectivity. The digital needs of industry, businesses, and consumers have a clear impact on spectrum management considerations, including the use of licensed and unlicensed spectrum and macro- and small-cell public mobile networks.
To assist policymakers in assessing their options for the band, the GSMA released a report providing new evidence on data traffic growth, the utilisation of mobile and Wi-Fi in different scenarios and frequency bands, and how efficiently mobile and Wi-Fi technologies are currently utilising their existing spectrum. To learn more, view the LinkedIn Live we organised to discuss the report’s key findings here.