Ofcom on Monday identified four frequency bands in the 6 GHz-100 GHz range that it believes offer the best potential for use as 5G spectrum.
The U.K. regulator has suggested that the 10 GHz, 32 GHz, 40 GHz, and 66 GHz bands would be appropriate for use for next-generation mobile services (see table). The proposal is based on a combination of in-house analysis, a report by consultancy Quotient Associates, and responses to a consultation that Ofcom launched in January.
"We believe it is desirable to identify specific potential bands above 6 GHz to help focus an agenda item for the World Radio Communication Conference in 2019 (WRC-19) and to maximise the potential for international harmonisation of 5G spectrum," said Ofcom.
"We have therefore identified a preliminary set of bands in different parts of the 6 GHz-100 GHz range that we currently believe offer the best potential for use in the U.K. and harmonisation of 5G mobile services globally.
"This does not guarantee that these bands will be adopted in the future and we do not rule out consideration of other options" ahead of November’s WRC-15 in Geneva, the watchdog said.
