{"id":13925,"date":"2026-07-22T11:41:54","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T10:41:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/connectivity-for-good\/spectrum\/?post_type=gsma_theme_resources&p=13925"},"modified":"2026-08-05T12:14:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T11:14:22","slug":"vision-2040-future-spectrum-needs","status":"publish","type":"gsma_theme_resources","link":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/connectivity-for-good\/spectrum\/gsma_resources\/vision-2040-future-spectrum-needs\/","title":{"rendered":"Vision 2040: Future Spectrum Needs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The GSMA\u2019s Vision 2040 study on spectrum\u00a0needs during the peak 6G era of 2035\u20132040\u00a0provides\u00a0the most\u00a0comprehensive assessment of mid-band\u00a0spectrum needs for mobile networks\u00a0to date.\u00a0It is\u00a0designed to support policymakers in developing\u00a0the long-term spectrum roadmap needed to\u00a0ensure seamless evolution into the networks\u00a0of the 2030s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Considering this evolution of demand and network\u00a0capacity in dense urban areas, and reflecting the\u00a0uncertainty involved in making long-term forecasts,\u00a0we estimate an average of 2-2.5 GHz of mid-band\u00a0spectrum (frequency bands between 1 GHz and\u00a010 GHz) will be\u00a0required\u00a0in the 2035\u20132040 period to\u00a0meet demand in high-population density locations\u00a0around the world.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In higher-demand countries\u00a0(representing\u00a0the top 50% of countries globally)\u00a0spectrum needs will be 2.4-3.3 GHz in that period.\u00a0Considering existing IMT allocations, where in most\u00a0countries around 1 GHz of mid-band spectrum is\u00a0identified\u00a0for mobile, this means that an\u00a0additional\u00a0mid-band requirement of 1\u20132 GHz is needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building on existing spectrum, including recent spectrum identifications at WRC-23, and also looking ahead to WRC-27 discussion items, the primary mid-bands currently under consideration for additional mobile spectrum are from within the: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. 3.8\u20134.2 GHz range, which could provide an additional 200\u2013400 MHz of mid-band spectrum<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. 4.4\u20134.99 GHz range, which could provide an additional 400\u2013600 MHz<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. upper 6 GHz range (6.425\u20137.125 GHz), which could provide an additional 700 MHz<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. the 7.125\u20138.4 GHz range, which could provide an additional 600\u20131275 MHz. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    The GSMA\u2019s Vision 2040 study on spectrum\u00a0needs during the peak 6G era of 2035\u20132040\u00a0provides\u00a0the most\u00a0comprehensive assessment of mid-band\u00a0spectrum needs for mobile networks\u00a0to date.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":56,"featured_media":14853,"template":"","meta":{"image":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/connectivity-for-good\/spectrum\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Vision-2040-cover.png","json":{"gsma_resources_type":"Multiple_Documents","gsma_resources_thumb":"[14854]","gsma_resources_file":"[13928]","gsma_resources_multi":[{"version":"Report","offsite":"No","file":"[14909]","url":"","video":"","desc":"","image":"[14854]"},{"version":"FAQ","offsite":"No","file":"[14843]","url":"","video":"","desc":"","image":"[14855]"},{"version":"Infographic","offsite":"No","file":"[14910]","url":"","video":"","desc":"","image":"[14846]"}],"gsma_resources_wgr":null,"gsma_resources_video":"","gsma_resources_image":"null","gsma_resources_url":"","gsma_resources_date":"","gsma_resources_button":""}},"tags":[],"resource_categories":[],"algolia_discover_type":[4028,4030],"class_list":["post-13925","gsma_theme_resources","type-gsma_theme_resources","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","algolia_discover_type-documents-and-reports","algolia_discover_type-resource"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nVision 2040: Future Spectrum Needs - 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