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The Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) has warned that delayed regulatory decisions regarding the upper 6GHz spectrum band risk stalling vital mobile network infrastructure updates as operators transition from 5G to 6G networks.
In a statement released Monday, GSMA Director-General Vivek Badrinath urged governments and regulators to prioritise allocating the upper 6GHz band (6.425 GHz to 7.125 GHz) for full-power macro-cell mobile services.
He emphasised that establishing timely, pro-investment spectrum roadmaps is essential to providing telecom operators with the certainty required to fund capacity expansions.
“The message from the mobile ecosystem is clear: we are ready to put the upper 6 GHz spectrum to work for consumers and businesses around the world,” Badrinath said, noting that countries representing over 80% of the global population now support mobile use for the band following its international harmonisation at the World Radio-communication Conference 2023.
More than 60 mobile operators, equipment manufacturers, and chipset makers have joined the push for deployment.
While initial spectrum assignments have commenced, further awards are anticipated across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas.
Key Industry Demands and Spectrum Highlights
City-Wide Capacity: Full-power macro-cell deployment in the upper 6GHz band will help operators handle skyrocketing global mobile data traffic and support 5G-Advanced evolution.
6G Readiness: Future 6G networks will require channel bandwidths between 200 MHz and 400 MHz, making the mid-band spectrum a critical bridge for next-generation technology.
Economic Impact: Balanced, market-driven spectrum assignment conditions will foster continuous network investment, economic growth, and digital inclusion.
Badrinath cautioned that prolonged regulatory inertia could disrupt operators’ capital investment strategies and jeopardize national digital goals.
He stressed that with the international framework already established, prompt action by national policymakers will determine whether the 6GHz band becomes a foundational pillar for sustainable global connectivity.
