Page 82 - SAMENA Trends - July-August 2022

ARTICLE SAMENA TRENDS

Such ongoing global collaboration is users worldwide, the allocation of the making the right decisions later depending
important to cultivate the 6GHz IMT 6GHz band for unlicensed usage would on the specific situation.
ecosystem to get it commercially ready be practically irreversible, leading to an
for IMT evolutions beyond 5G by 2025 imbalance in such mid-bands assignment We have already seen how mid-
timeframe. Some countries have already along with a great opportunity loss for 5G band can drive 5G network evolution.
announced consideration of 1.2GHz technologies and economies. In addition, Furthermore, using advanced Massive
bandwidth within the 6GHz band for 5G and Wi-Fi user experience could be limited by MIMO technologies, 6GHz can achieve
beyond. Other countries considered the broadband fixed access network capacity similar coverage as C-band with even
split of the band, with the upper 700MHz and penetration, unlicensed technology higher capacity, making 6GHz an ideal
portion potentially being planned for 5G limitations and low-end access points band for balancing the capacity and
and its evolution, while the lower 500MHz rather than the shortage of spectrum. coverage necessary to meet future wide-
area deployment requirements in a cost-
The World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (WRC- effective manner.
19) agreed to establish a new agenda item to study upper The Middle East is leading the world in
6GHz for IMT (International Mobile Telecommunication) at digitising its economies and societies.
WRC-23. Additionally, the GSMA has advocated 6GHz as Countries in the region were among the

the primary band for the future of 5G evolution and officially first to roll out 5G and are already benefiting
from the rise of new use cases and
set up a 6GHz Supporting Group. business models. This progress has been
the result of strategic thinking and future-
tranche is made available for exempting Therefore, it is important to weigh the proofing ICT infrastructure. Spectrum
license. (e.g. Wi-Fi, 5G NR-U (New Radio decisions carefully when allocating issuance should be seen in a similar light.
Unlicensed), among others. frequencies to licensed or unlicensed The correct choice today will positively
operations in the 6GHz band, noting that impact socio-economic growth for years to
While license-exempt spectrum contributed supporting IMT identification in the band come.
to the delivery of many benefits to end- 6425 – 7125 MHz at WRC-23 will allow

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