The mobile ecosystem is a broad and diverse enabler of social development and economic growth. It has evolved through research and innovation across multiple industries, strengthening its role in serving connectivity over the globe through the united efforts of different sectors. This paper outlines the roles played by licensed and unlicensed (also known as licence-exempt) spectrum in providing reliable services to consumers. It highlights the essential issues that must be taken into account when considering these two mechanisms for spectrum use.
Mobile network operators (MNOs) use licensed spectrum in core frequency bands to provide services to industry, governments, and consumers. This spectrum has guaranteed rights of use and helps provide secure, reliable, and good quality service for end-users. Licensed spectrum also provides certainty, incentivises investment, and gives predictability for MNOs to develop long-term plans, knowing that they will have access to a certain band for the length of time guaranteed in their spectrum licence.
Unlicensed spectrum, often used by consumers and industry for WAS/RLAN applications such as Wi-Fi, is also an important mechanism for providing internet connectivity. Unlicensed spectrum provides access connectivity to user equipment in localised fixed locations and can be an important component of communications infrastructure. Unlicensed access is dependent on connecting to a wide-area network wired or wireless – in order to provide connectivity.
Communications service providers do not tend to rely on one spectrum model to provide services to consumers. ISPs and cable providers may offer MVNO services while, in many countries, MNOs are also the major providers of fibre connectivity. They thus offer fixed services to end-users combined with unlicensed spectrum to provide the final access connection, as well as using licensed for their mobile connectivity.
The GSMA highlights different principles in licensed and unlicensed spectrum:
- Licensed and unlicensed spectrum play important roles in broadband connectivity
- Mobile network operators offer services using unlicensed and licensed spectrum
- Where demand on spectrum is high for unlicensed usage, it is typically high for licensed mobile
- Seamless connectivity promotes digital transformation and SDGs uptake
- Mobile service prevalence and quality removes the need for public Wi-Fi Access Points
- Unlicensed spectrum needs are mostly defined by the speed of the internet access
- Private mobile networks may require licensed and unlicensed spectrum