China Awards 5G Trial Spectrum For 3.5 GHz, 2.6 GHz, 4.8 GHz Bands

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has awarded trial spectrum to China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom to test 5G services. The latter two operators were offered frequencies in the 3,400-3,500 MHz band, available nationwide for 5G trials until 30 June 2020, while China Mobile received spectrum in the 2.6 GHz and 4.8 GHz bands.

China Telecom and China Unicom said the companies also agreed to gradually cease using the 2,555-2,575 MHz and 2,635-2,655 MHz bands by 31 March 2019, which will be refarmed by the ministry. China Mobile said it would adopt the ranges 2,515-2675 MHz and 4,800-4,900 MHz for testing 5G across the country, with the new spectrum also valid until June 2020. This includes its existing holdings in the 2,575-2,635 MHz range used for TD-LTE, as well as the bands 2,515-2,575 MHz, 2,635-2,675 MHz and 4,800-4,900 MHz. – Telecom Paper