Licenses for millimeter wave frequencies in 24, 28, 37, 39 and 47 GHz bands focus of proposed auctions
The multi-gigabit speeds 5G is designed to support will require large swatches of high-capacity, millimeter wave spectrum. High-band frequencies, combined with mid- and low-band spectrum will collectively afford end users, whether people or objects, the right mix of coverage and capacity needed to support 5G use cases.
Right now in the U.S., AT&T and Verizon are both tapping millimeter wave frequencies to roll-out commercial 5G services later this year. AT&T is promising a standards-based mobile service in 12 markets by year-end, while Verizon is planning to deploy fixed wireless access to provide residential broadband services in three to five markets by the end of 2018.
To support further development of 5G, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission is working to finalize plans for millimeter wave spectrum auctions later this year and in the second-half of 2019.
In a blog post, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, a noted fan of Will Ferrell films, said a goal of the FCC’s Aug. 2 meeting is to finalize rules for an auction of 28 GHz and 24 GHz airwaves that’s set to begin on Nov. 14.
“These will be the first auctions of high-band spectrum for 5G services, but they won’t be the last,” Pai wrote. “Specifically, I’m excited to announce my plan to move forward with a single auction of three more millimeter wave spectrum bands—the 37 GHz, 39 GHz, and 47 GHz bands—in the second half of 2019. To help facilitate that auction on this timeline, I’m proposing rules to clean up the 39 GHz band and move incumbents into rationalized license holdings. This will help make the 39 GHz band as attractive as possible for new bidders, while consolidating incumbent spectrum licenses into more usable blocks.”
Pai said he’s proposing during the August meeting 100 megahertz license blocks for the 37 GHz, 39 GHz and 47 GHz bands “so they can more easily be auctioned together. These are important steps that will help solidify U.S. leadership in 5G.”
