Spectrum for 5G: Plans, Licences and Trials

Spectrum for 5G: Plans, Licences and Trials Prepared by GSA based on information in the GSA Networks, Technologies & Spectrum (NTS) Database January 2018 1

This report provides a snapshot of the global status of 5G spectrum as of the end of December 2017. It analyses the major mobile markets that are moving towards 5G, with particular reference to 5G spectrum use, allocations, auctions, and trials. The report first covers recent 5G spectrum activity worldwide including auction and allocation plans. It then briefly collates information on 5G trials, and the operators that are investigating 5G around the world. 5G technologies promise the ability to serve different classes of application, using network slicing and efficient allocation of network resources, and the increasing number of 5G trials worldwide demonstrates rapid moves towards these goals. The number of countries auctioning or considering auctioning spectrum suitable for use with 5G services is also increasing. Although commercial introduction of standards-based 5G networks has some way to go, both telecom regulators and operators are aware that application requirements must be taken into consideration when allocating suitable spectrum. In this report, we consider spectrum in specific bands in which relevant auctions and trials (both in the wide area and the laboratory) are being conducted or considered. They are as follows: 600 MHz 700 MHz 800 MHz 900 MHz 1400 1500 MHz 2000 MHz 2100 MHz 2300 MHz 2500 MHz 2600 MHz 3300 3400 MHz 3400 3600 MHz 3600 3800 MHz 3800 4200 MHz 4400 4900 MHz 24.25 29.5 GHz 31.3 31.8 GHz 37 43.5 GHz 64 86* GHz (*Note that some organisations identify a 66 86 GHz range but we have identified activities in the 64 66 GHz range as well and combined all such activity into one broader band.) We have used information published by regulators and operators themselves where possible they are not always completely specific about frequency ranges, but we have allocated them to recognised bands as closely as possible. Some of the higher spectrum bands, not currently allocated for commercial mobile 2

communications, are broad. It is likely that these bands will be more formally defined by national regulators and through the international harmonisation process in due course. The data analysed for this report is taken from public domain statements by operators, regulators and vendors, collected by GSA as part of its continuous programme of research into 5G activity around the world. Data is always validated with primary sources. Global overview 42 countries are holding consultations, or have reserved spectrum, or have announced plans to auction spectrum soon in bands suitable for 5G At present, 42 countries in the world are either holding consultations regarding 5G-suitable spectrum, have reserved spectrum for 5G, or have announced plans to auction frequencies in that spectrum soon. Some countries have multiple initiatives underway. In Europe, 12 countries are currently holding consultations (Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, UK) and seven countries are planning 5G spectrum auctions/allocations between 2018 and 2020 (Austria, Finland, France, Denmark, Netherlands, Poland, and Switzerland). There are at least four countries currently actively consulting or considering options in the Asia-Pacific (India, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore) with at least eight auctions being planned (Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Pakistan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam). Countries in the Middle East and Africa consulting on 5G spectrum or planning relevant auctions include: Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, Namibia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and UAE. In the Americas, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and USA are also looking at the future use of spectrum suitable for 5G services. Major market allocations and licenses There has been vigorous activity in the 5G arena in some major telecom markets. Here we outline recent and upcoming activity by regulators and operators in China, Japan, South Korea, the USA, Australia, Europe and Brazil. In November 2017, China s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued the frequency plan for the 3300 3400 MHz, 3400 3600 MHz, and 4800 5000 MHz bands for IMT-2020 (5G). It stated that the 3300 3400 MHz band would be for indoor use for 5G services. At the same time, a series of 5G 3

verification tests is being implemented by China s IMT 2020 (5G) promotion group. The first two tests have been completed. The third set of verification tests will continue until September 2018. Many of the trials in these tests used C-band spectrum (largely around 3500 MHz), with the occasional test in the 26 GHz band. In South Korea there has been much discussion of the use of pre-standards 5G networks and technology during the 2018 Winter Olympics, which will be held in PyeongChang. The country s two largest operators KT and SK Telekom both plan live 5G networks for the event in February 2018. KT plans to use the 28 GHz band. SK Telecom has also been trialling the 28 GHz band for future 5G services, alongside the 3500 MHz band. In Japan, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and (MIC) has declared that the official 5G bands in the archipelago are 3700 MHz, 4500 MHz (a maximum of 500 MHz in sub-6 GHz bands), and 28 GHz (a maximum allocation of 2 GHz bandwidth). Among the operators in the country there has been a broad mix of different spectrum used for trials, including 3500 MHz, 4500 MHz, 28 GHz, and 70 GHz. The US decided in July 2016 to use mmwave spectrum for 5G services in the 28 GHz, 37 GHz, 39 GHz bands for licensed services (3.85 GHz bandwidth) and 64 71 GHz for unlicensed services. In November 2017, the Federal Commission (FCC) opened an additional 1.7 GHz of spectrum in the 24 GHz and 47 GHz bands for mobile licensed use. It has also maintained all other spectrum allocations in the 28 GHz, 37 GHz and 39 GHz bands as well as the range between 64 GHz and 71 GHz. Currently, the US operators have confined their 5G trials to 28 GHz, 39 GHz and 15 GHz bands, with some of them also testing in 2.5 GHz spectrum. The US has completed an auction of 600 MHz for mobile operators and is in the process of clearing the bands; some early deployment has already commenced. The US has allocated 3550 3700 MHz for deployment under a spectrum access system (SAS) and is currently in the process of approving SAS; operation is expected in 2018 with auctions at a later date. The US has started considering 3700 4200 MHz, 5.925 6.425 GHz and 6.425 7.125 GHz for allocation. Rule-making is expected to progress in 2018. Canada is holding a consultation on a future auction in the 614 698 MHz band as well as considering mobile allocations in 28 GHz, 37 GHz; 39 GHz and 67 71 GHz. 4

Australia has focused initially on the 3400 MHz band. A process to distribute spectrum in that band is currently underway. The Australian and Media Authority (ACMA) has also made public its plans to auction the 3600 MHz band for 5G use in Oct Dec 2018 and mmwave band in Jul Sep 2019. An auction of 1500 MHz spectrum is also expected to take place in Oct Dec 2019. In the meantime, two of its leading operators Telstra and Optus have used the 26 GHz and 73 GHz bands respectively to conduct their latest 5G trials. In Europe, considerable 5G preparatory work has focused on the 3400 3800 MHz spectrum range. Italy looks set to be one of the most active countries in terms of 5G trials after its Ministry of Economic Development made frequencies available for trialling pre-standards 5G. Five leading operators in the country have expressed intent to trial 5G in the 3600 3800 MHz band. Many other spectrum bands are also being investigated for 5G though, including 700 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2600 MHz, 4650 4850 MHz, 15 GHz, 24.25 29.5 GHz, as well as 70 GHz. In Brazil, the telecom regulator (ANATEL) has declared the 3500 MHz as suitable for 5G. As a whole, South America has some catching up to do when it comes to 5G trials. Some of the few tests took place in late 2017 when Movistar Argentina used 28 GHz band to conduct a 5G lab test, achieving speeds of up to 20 Gbit/s, and Claro Chile began lab tests at 27 GHz. Collected 5G spectrum activity Table 1 summarises, by region and country, all the 5G spectrum activity collected by GSA in the course of its research programme. This includes bands being considered for 5G, soon to be auctioned, considered for auction, and those already granted to operators. It excludes temporary licences awarded for the purpose of trialling / testing 5G networks (this latter category is covered in our analysis of 5G trials). 5

Table 1: Summary of 5G spectrum activity Region Country APAC Australia Authority Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA) Frequencies proposed or being (formally) considered, or licensed for 5G (excludes temporary trial licences) 1500 MHz; 3400 MHz; 3600 MHz; 26 GHz China MIIT China has issued the frequency plan with 3300 3400 MHz; 3400 3600 MHz; 4800 5000 MHz for 5G uses. Additional testing has been done at 26 GHz Hong Kong Indonesia Office of the Authority (OFCA) Badan Regulasi Telekomunikasi Indonesia (BRTI) 3400 3700 MHz; 24.25 28.35 GHz 28 GHz Japan MIC 3400 3600 MHz; 70 GHZ; 39 GHz; 15 GHz. Official 5G bands: 3700 MHz, 4500 MHz (max 500 MHz in sub-6 GHz), and 28 GHz (max 2 GHz) New Zealand Pakistan Singapore South Korea Radio Spectrum Management Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) Ministry of Science and ICT 600 MHz; 1427 1518 MHz; 3410 3690 MHz; 24.25 27.5 GHz 3500 MHz Thailand NBTC 2600 MHz Vietnam EMEA Austria Ministry of Information and Austrian Regulatory Authority for Broadcasting and Telecommunications (RTR) 800 MHz; 1427 1518 MHz; 3400 3600 MHz; 24.25 29.5 GHz; 31.8 33.4 GHz; 37 43.5 GHz; 45.5 50.2 GHz; 66 76 GHz; 81 86 GHz. 3400 3700 MHz; 26.5 29.5 GHz 2300 MHz; 2600 MHz 3400 3800 MHz Bahrain TRA 3400 3600 MHz 6

Region Country Belgium Bulgaria Authority Belgian Institute for Post and Telecommunications (BIPT) Regulation Commission (CRC) Frequencies proposed or being (formally) considered, or licensed for 5G (excludes temporary trial licences) 3400 3800 MHz 3600 MHz Czech Republic CTU 700 MHz, 3600 3800 MHz Denmark Danish Energy Agency 700 MHz; 900 MHz; 2300 MHz Egypt NTRA 3400 3600 MHz Finland France Finnish communications regulator (Ficora) Regulatory Authority for Electronic and Posts (ARCEP) 3400 3800 MHz (; 24.25 27.5 GHz 3400 3800 MHz Germany Bundesnetzagentur 2000 MHz, 3400 3700 MHz Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Morocco Netherlands Poland Hellenic Telecommunications & Post Commission National Media and Infocommunications Authority Commission for Regulation (ComReg) Guarantee Authority (AGCOM) Public Utilities Commission L'Agence Nationale de Réglementation des Télécommunications (ANRT) Ministry of Economic Affairs Ministry of Digitization 24.5 26.5 GHz1 700 MHz, 3400 3800 MHz, 26 GHz 3600 MHz; 26 GHz2 3500 MHz; 3600 3800 MHz 3400 3450 MHz; 3650 3700 MHz3 3400 3600 MHz4 Planned auction of 700 MHz, 1400 MHz and 2100 MHz; considering 3500 MHz 700 MHz, 3400-3800 MHz, 26 GHz 7

Region Country Authority Frequencies proposed or being (formally) considered, or licensed for 5G (excludes temporary trial licences) Qatar CRA 3400 3600 MHz Romania Russia National Authority for Management and Regulation in (ANCOM) Ministry of Telecom and Mass 3410 3420 MHz, 3510 3520 MHz; and 3450 3465 MHz, 3550 3565 MHz 25.25 29.5 GHz5 Saudi Arabia CITC 3400 3600 MHz Slovakia RTR 3600 3800 MHz; 26 GHz; 29 GHz6 Spain Sweden Switzerland The Ministry of Energy, Tourism and Digital Agenda (MINETAD) Swedish Post and Telecom Authority Swiss Federal Council 700 MHz; 1500 MHz; 3600 3800 MHz 3400 3800 MHz; 24.25 27.5 GHz 700 MHz; 1400 MHz; 3500 3600MHz; 3600 3800 MHz; 2600 MHz UAE TRA 1427 1518 MHz, 3300 MHz 3800 MHz; 24.25-27.4 GHz; 40 GHz UK Ofcom 700 MHz; 3600 3800 MHz; above 24 GHz; 57-66 GHz; 64-66 GHz; above 92 GHz CALA Brazil North America Mexico Canada Brazilian Telecom Regulator (Anatel) Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT) Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) 3500 MHz; 2300 MHz 600 MHz (614 698 MHz) 614 698 MHz; 28 GHz; 37 GHz; 39 GHz; 64 71 GHz USA FCC 600 MHz; 2.5 GHz; 3.55 3.7 GHz; 3.7-4.2 GHz; 5.925 7.125 GHz; 24 GHz; 28 GHz; 37 GHz; 39 GHz; 47 GHz7 1: Awarded; 2: Has awarded 3600 MHz spectrum to operators it specified as suitable for 5G; 3: Licensed for 5G; 4: Considering; 5: Allocated for use during the 2018 World Cup; 6: 3600-3800 MHz awarded for non-specific purposes; 7: 600 MHz awarded 8

Popular frequency bands being considered or used for 5G networks and trials 32 countries have announced auctions or are consulting on proposals for use of the 3400 3600 MHz band for 5G Worldwide, in terms of total activity, the most common frequency band being considered for use for 5G technology is the 3400 3600 MHz band. At present 32 countries have either announced auctions in that band or are holding consultation talks (this figure excludes countries with operators granted temporary testing licences, accounted for separately under our trials analysis). The next most common band is the 3600 3800 MHz range and then the 24.25 29.5 GHz range with 20 and 17 countries auctioning, or consulting on use of, this spectrum respectively. At present, telecom regulators around the world are either auctioning or considering auctioning spectrum in 18 different spectrum bands for future 5G services, ranging from 600 MHz to 64 86 GHz. Figure 1: Count of countries where there is regulator 5G activity, per band, based on regulator proposals, consultations or spectrum allocations (excludes temporary allocations for testing / trialling purposes) Figures 2, 3, and 4 on following pages show those countries where there is activity in the three most popular bands identified above. 9

Figure 2: Countries where the 3400 3600 MHz band is being considered, auctioned or awarded for 5G (excludes temporary allocations for testing / trialling purposes) Figure 3: Countries where the 3600 3800 MHz band is being considered, auctioned or awarded for 5G (excludes temporary allocations for testing / trialling purposes) 10

Figure 4: Countries where the 24.25 29.5 GHz band is being considered, auctioned or awarded for 5G (excludes temporary allocations for testing / trialling purposes) Diversity of bands being considered used or auctioned The number of bands being used or considered for 5G differs by country. China shows the most diversity in band usage with seven different bands being used or considered. Figure 5 shows this diversity on a global map. Figure 5: Number of different proposed or allocated 5G bands/band groupings (as in Figure 1 above) per country (excludes temporary allocations for testing / trialling purposes) 11

Spectrum auctions and allocations Several counties are already actively planning allocations of specific spectrum for 5G uses. Australia has stated that it sees the 3600 MHz band being the most likely candidate for 5G services and plans an auction for the band in 2018. Australia auctioned spectrum in the 3400 MHz band on a technology neutral basis in 2017. The US completed an auction of 600 MHz spectrum in 2017 and is considering a consultation on the use of 5925 7125 MHz spectrum. Other countries are also planning 2018 for 5G band allocations. Table 2 summarises the state of the 5G spectrum auction planning process around the world. Table 2: Planned 5G spectrum auctions/allocations Country Authority Details Date Australia ACMA Planned auction of 3600 MHz band Oct Dec 2018 Australia ACMA Planned auction of mmwave bands Jul Sep 2019 Canada ISED Planned auction of mmwave bands TBC Czech Republic 700 MHz TBC France ARCEP Planned allocation of 3400 3800 MHz bands Hong Kong OFCA Planned allocation of 3400 3700 MHz and mmwave (24.25 28.35 GHz) bands Latvia PUC Planned auction of the 3400 3450 MHz and 3650 3700 MHz bands TBC TBC TBC Mexico IFT Planned auction of 600 MHz TBC Netherlands Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs Auction of the 700 MHz, 1400 MHz and 2100 MHz frequency bands 2019 Pakistan PTA Planned auction in 2021 2021 Poland South Korea Spain Switzerland Digitization Ministry Ministry of Science and ICT Ministry of Energy, Tourism & Digital Agenda Swiss Federal Council Planned allocation of 700 MHz for 5G, 3400 3800 MHz and 26 GHz Planned auction of 3.5 GHz and 28 GHz bands 2020 and 2021 2018 3600 3800 MHz, 1500 MHz 2018 Planned auction of: 700 MHz band; 1400 MHz band; 3.5 3.6 GHz and 3.6 3.8 GHz band 2H 2018 Thailand NBTC Planned auction of 2.6 GHz band 2018 UK Ofcom Planned auction of 2300 MHz, 3400 3800 MHz band; and 700 MHz US FCC Planned auction of mmwave frequencies TBC 2018 US FCC Planned auction of 3550 3700 MHz TBC 12

5G trials Whilst formal licensing or allocations of spectrum for use in delivery of 5G services is still at a nascent stage, many operators are already actively trialling 5G technologies using spectrum that has been identified as suitable for 5G applications. 113 operators in 56 countries have been involved in or are planning 5G trials GSA has identified 113 operators that have been involved in or are planning 5G trials (including trials where we have been unable to identify the spectrum used), representing 56 countries. Operators in USA and Japan have been the most active, followed by China, South Korea, Italy, UK and Germany. So far, few trials have been conducted in Latin America or Africa. The GSA s report 5G Status: Global Market Trials provides more detailed information, including an analysis of spectrum bands used in those trials. Figure 6 maps trial activity around the globe. Figure 6: Map of 5G trials around the world 13

Figure 7: Number of 5G trials leading nations Sixty-two telecom operators in 32 countries have been actively involved in 5G trials where we know the spectrum bands used. We have identified operators in 19 countries in EMEA that have been or are currently trialling 5G services in identified spectrum bands. It is interesting to note that 15 mobile operators in Slovakia have recently been awarded licences in the 5G-suitable 3600 3800 MHz band by the country s Office for Regulation of Electronic & Postal Services. However, it is currently unclear if they are planning to use their frequency allocations for 5G trials soon. In the Asia-Pacific region, operators in nine countries are or have been trialling using 5G-suitable frequencies. Operators in Argentina, Canada, Chile, USA have also staged 5G trials in spectrum that could potentially be used for 5G. These regions and countries are expected to take the lead in introducing the new technology. See the GSA report 5G Update Global Market Trials for more detail about the 5G trials occurring around the world. 14

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