Wednesday 29 October, 2025 (modified Saturday 28 February, 2026)

Mobile Spectrum Needs

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Background

Governments can support mobile development by having a long-term vision of the spectrum access that mobile operators will receive.

Mobile networks operate across an evolving range of technologies, from 2G to 5G and, in the future, 6G. Growing demand for data has required wider spectrum channels, with channel sizes increasing four to five times every generation. While 2G voice applications used small tranches of spectrum to deliver voice and SMS, 5G usage requires 100 MHz data channels. 6G, which will provide capacity for mass-market augmented reality (AR), intensive AI use and other new applications, will use 200–400 MHz channels.

New generations of technology are always designed to use the spectrum of previous generations, but more bandwidth in wider channels is required alongside increased data. 2G and 3G are used in fewer and fewer markets, and these network sunsets allow spectrum to be refarmed for more efficient technologies, such as 5G.

5G supports higher network capacity and faster mobile broadband speeds than previous generations – essential to meet high-user demand for today’s data-heavy mobile applications, such as on-demand video. 6G will build on 5G and the next phase in its evolution, 5G-Advanced.

The following usage scenarios are the four main pillars of 5G:

Enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB)
Ultra-reliable and low latency communications (URLLC)
Massive machine-type communications (MMTC)
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)

Mobile services depend on access to spectrum to build cost-effective networks. Robust licensing and timely availability of spectrum is also vital to the success of mobile deployment. With these in place, mobile can transform digital economies across the globe, help close the broadband usage gap and support digital inclusion.

Although countries in different regions have adopted different combinations of bands, regional and global harmonisation (the uniform allocation of radio frequency bands under common technical and regulatory conditions) have created economies of scale that have made mobile services and handsets more affordable.

Roadmaps for spectrum access should be made transparent by governments and regulators,as this will optimise network planning and reduce capital expenditure. By working together with industry, governments can help ensure connectivity is affordable.

The speed and availability of 5G services depend on mobile operators having access to spectrum in low, mid- and high bands to build cost-effective networks. Robust licensing and timely availability of spectrum is also vital to the success of 5G deployment. With these in place, 5G can transform digital economies across the globe, help close the broadband usage gap and support digital inclusion.

Although countries in different regions have adopted different combinations of those bands, regional and global harmonisation have created economies of scale that, in turn, have made mobile services and handsets more affordable.

The roadmap for spectrum access should be made transparent by governments and regulators to optimise network planning and capital expenditure. By working together with industry, governments can help ensure connectivity is affordable.

Debate

As spectrum needs for licensed mobile in wider channels increase, how can regulators meet spectrum demand for mobile capacity and which harmonised bands can be used?

Industry position

Mobile technologies require harmonised mobile spectrum. Governments should carefully consider spectrum demands 10 years into the future. As data traffic continues to increase and new, innovative use cases take off, more spectrum across the low-, mid- and high-bands will be needed.

Mid-band spectrum has been the main driver of 5G launches so far and is expected to help realise most of the socio-economic benefits of 5G. Meeting spectrum needs in this range is vital to the future of mobile and requires policymakers to formulate a clear spectrum roadmap. An average of 2–3 GHz of mid-band spectrum will be required in the 2035–2040 period to meet demand in high-population-density locations around the world. 200-400 MHz channels will be required for 6G.

An average of 5 GHz of high-band spectrum will be needed in mature 5G markets by 2030, while countries just starting their 5G journey should seek 3.5 GHz of high-band this decade. High-band spectrum complements low- and mid-band implementations in dense urban areas and provides fibre-like connectivity through FWA. It also helps ensure secure, reliable and low-latency networks in manufacturing plants or high-density locations, such as sports and music venues and travel hubs.

Countries that have assigned a greater amount of low-band spectrum have also achieved higher speeds in rural areas. Furthermore, each 50 MHz of sub-1 GHz spectrum is associated with a 7 percentage point (pp) increase in 4G coverage and a 11 pp increase in 5G coverage, with a more pronounced impact than higher bands.