ITU reaches agreement to open new 6GHz band for 5G & 6G

The World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23), ITU’s premier event, which is held every four years, currently meeting in Dubai, UAE, reached a historic agreement to open a new spectrum band for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), the ITU name for 4G, 5G and 6G mobile technologies. The frequency band 7025-7125 MHz (100 MHz) will be immediately available for India as well as other Asian countries. WRC-23 also opened an additional 600 MHz in the band 6425-7025 MHz band for Europe, Africa, Middle-East and some countries in Asia and South America and created the necessary regulatory frame work for all Asian countries, including India and China to opt-in to this additional 600 MHz band at WRC-27, thus providing India with sufficient time to adjust the existing satellite services of ISRO. This sets a course for opening a substantial new mid band spectrum for 5G and 6G, meeting the aspirations of the mobile industry. WRC-23 also approved new studies in 4 GHz, 7-8 GHz and 15 GHz for additional 2 GHz mid band spectrum for 4G, 5G and 6G mobile technologies. The agreement also opens the path for opening the lower 6 GHz band from 5925 to 6425 MHz for unlicensed usage to promote innovation in the country.

WRC-23 attracts noteworthy participation from diverse countries across the globe, which underscores the conference’s international significance and the collective commitment to ensure efficient and equitable allocation of the precious resource, The WRC-23, is currently underway at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from November 20 to December 15, 2023. This month-long conference has drawn a massive gathering of more than 4,500 participants from more than 172 countries and territories, including international organizations, inter-governmental organizations, recognized operating agencies, scientific and industrial organizations, financial and development institutions, and other entities which have been actively engaged in telecommunication matters.

The WRC-23 that commenced on November 20, 2023, convening government representatives for negotiations on the allocation of radio-frequency spectrum saw a more enhanced role played by the Indian contingent. Shri Bharat Bhatia, President, IAFI was nominated as the Vice-Chairperson for Committee-4, responsible for dealing with spectrum issues for mobile services. The Committee-4 dealt with most sensitive matters for WRC-23, including the examination of frequency band 4 800-4 990 MHz, safeguarding stations of aeronautical and maritime mobile services, and evaluating the identification of frequency bands such as 3 300-3 400 MHz, 3 600-3 800 MHz, 6 425-7 025 MHz, 7 025-7 125 MHz, and 10.0- 10.5 GHz for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT).

CT Bureau