Recently, GSMA once again called on all countries to use 6GHz as an authorized spectrum, and warned that if governments cannot use 6GHz as an authorized spectrum, it will jeopardize the development prospects of 5G in the world.
GSMA pointed out in the statement that the 6GHz band can take into account the advantages of low-frequency coverage and high-frequency capacity, which is essential for the full release of 5G potential in the next ten years. However, governments of various countries have already disagreed on the issue of how to use the 6GHz spectrum. To this end, GSMA calls on governments of all countries to use the full frequency band or the upper half of 6GHz as authorized spectrum.
Spectrum is the oxygen of the wireless industry, an extremely scarce resource, and a key factor in promoting the development of wireless technology. Today, why does GSMA make such a strong appeal for the "unexplored" spectrum resources of 6GHz? How important is the 6GHz band for 5G?
6GHz is the ideal 5G mid-band and is essential for realizing the 5G vision
The 6GHz frequency band ranges from 5.925-7.125GHz, which belongs to the 5G mid-band with the current mainstream 5G frequency band 3.3-4.2GHz. It has a continuous large bandwidth of 1200MHz, which can perfectly adapt to the 5G 100MHz channel bandwidth and carrier aggregation technology, which greatly improves the future 5G system capacity. In terms of coverage, although 6GHz is weaker than the lower mid-band of 3.5GHz in wireless propagation characteristics, related simulation and analysis results show that if the continuous development of related technologies such as propagation loss compensation is considered, the coverage of 6GHz can be close to the 3.5/3.8GHz frequency band. . Therefore, the 6GHz band has both coverage and capacity advantages and is an ideal mid-band for 5G, which is conducive to the continuous construction of a continuous coverage and large-bandwidth 5G network to meet the ever-increasing demand for network capacity.
As the GSMA stated in its statement, 5G is the backbone of digital transformation and will drive global GDP growth of US$2.2 trillion. However, if there is not enough 6GHz licensed spectrum for 5G technology, the possibility of achieving this growth will be significantly reduced. In the next ten years, 5G networks are expected to require intermediate frequency spectrum above 2GHz to fully release their potential. The 6GHz frequency band takes into account the advantages of coverage and capacity, and will meet the high-speed transmission and large-capacity requirements of scenarios such as smart cities, smart transportation, and smart factories. It is an ideal frequency band for 5G.
The 6GHz frequency band is conducive to narrowing the digital divide and continuing to promote the rapid and healthy development of 5G
Since the commercialization of 5G, the mid-frequency band has become the mainstream 5G frequency band in the world, and the world's leading operators have proved the important value of the mid-frequency band in promoting the development of 5G. For example, South Korea built a 5G network based on the 3.5GHz frequency band. Not only did it quickly deploy a 5G network with wide coverage and large bandwidth, it also drove the rapid popularization of new applications such as VR/AR and ultra-high-definition video, and achieved a 5G single-user data flow rate. 4G is more than tripled; China’s three major operators have built networks through the 3.5/2.6GHz mid-frequency band, not only building the world’s largest 5G network, but also providing users with a multiplied network experience. Many emerging 5G applications have been explored in various fields such as ports and smart medical care, which have played a powerful role in promoting the digital transformation of the industry and the development of China's digital economy. As the last segment of high-quality spectrum resources in the 5G mid-band, 6GHz can continue to provide a strong impetus for the current 5G development and continue to promote the commercial success of 5G.
3GPP global unified standards are more conducive to releasing the potential of the 6GHz frequency band
From the perspective of industrial ecology, 3GPP is currently studying 5G standards for the 6GHz frequency band, and major manufacturers have also conducted a large number of R&D and experiments on 5G technologies working at 6GHz. At the same time, from the establishment of WRC-19 project, GSMA survey, and 3GPP NR project to Ericsson, Huawei, Nokia, ZTE and other major manufacturers issued statements to show their position, the global telecommunications industry has reached a consensus on supporting 6GHz for 5G. It is believed that based on 3GPP's globally unified 5G standard and a strong ecosystem, it will be more conducive to the full release of the value potential of the 6GHz frequency band, promote the development of 5G technology and application scale, and benefit the majority of users and all walks of life. In addition, 6GHz is used for authorized spectrum. Based on more advanced 3GPP technology and the deployment and operation capabilities of operators, it can also better improve spectrum utilization efficiency and avoid potential frequency interference to the greatest extent.
In short, 6GHz is an ideal 5G mid-band, which can realize 5G universal large-bandwidth services at a lower cost per bit, enable the continued prosperity and growth of 5G emerging applications, and accelerate the digital transformation of the whole society. At present, my country has made a series of plans for the use of the 6GHz frequency band for 5G. For example, it has been proposed to start the study of 6GHz for IMT at WRC-19. The IMT-2020 (5G) Promotion Group has announced at the 2020 Beijing Communications Exhibition that it will be in 2021. The research and testing of 6GHz will be carried out in due course. Here, we also call on more partners to join the 6GHz IMT industry promotion work to jointly promote the sustainable development of mobile communications in the next ten years and accelerate the realization of the vision of "5G changes society".
