Sparring Partners | What’s the best way to share the 6 GHz spectrum?

The 6GHz band has become prime estate: a large amount of spectrum that can be safely shared with incumbents and used for indoor connectivity and densification in high-traffic areas.

Understandably, everybody wants to use it and protect their access to it: mobile operators, other service providers, enterprises, public entities, and everybody in their homes.

Who should have access to it? How should we ensure coexistence with incumbents? And how should we protect the right to access the spectrum?

Pasquale Cataldi at Innovation Lamba and Monica Paolini at Senza Fili examined different approaches to spectrum sharing in the 6 GHz band – from the US all-unlicensed to the Chinese all-licensed approach, and including the new Ofcom’s hybrid sharing proposal and other combinations of licensed and unlicensed access.

What regulatory framework will maximize the use of 6 GHz? What is the best way to share spectrum without unnecessary complexity, costs and delays? What do users want? What do service providers need? How important is it to have a harmonized approach across countries?