5G Spectrum

5G networks are emerging not only as the foundation for advanced communication services, but also as the infrastructure supporting socio-economic development and driving industrial digital transformation. Spectrum and regulation play a fundamental role in making 5G a success, ensuring timely availability of the spectrum under appropriate conditions to allow the wireless market to respond to consumer and industrial demand for services.

This position paper presents Huawei’s insights and recommendations on 5G spectrum and regulations impacting the allocation of frequency bands.

Know more about our positions on 5G spectrum
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Spectrum for the 5G deployment

Policy makers and regulators are recommended to harmonize the spectrum allocation for 5G.

• Sub-8GHz frequency band for 5G deployment: 3300-3800MHz, 2600MHz and 2300MHz are the primary frequency bands for 5G deployment, and at least 80-100 MHz contiguous spectrum per 5G network operator.
• TDD bands at 4800-4990 MHz and 3800-4200MHz to complement the 5G primary bands in specific countries.
• 6 GHz is the potential future primary band for 5G development in the long term.
• Uplink enhancement using SUL spectrum with larger bandwidths will help address the uplink capacity requirement.

Policy and regulation for 5G

• New spectrum assignments should be technology and service neutral.
• Nationwide exclusive licensing is essential for 5G success.
• Synchronized operation is required for 5G TDD networks to ensure efficient use of spectrum.
• Significantly lower pricing of 5G spectrum compared to 4G, with appropriate provisions to enhance end user experience are proposed.