British telecoms regulator Ofcom has announced plans to release more than 6 GHz of millimetre-wave (mmWave) spectrum to support higher-capacity, higher-speed wireless services.
The allocation will cover the 26 GHz band (24.25–27.5 GHz) and the 40 GHz band (40.5–43.5 GHz), offering substantial uplifts in throughput and network capacity where deployed.
Tony Eigen, Vice President of Marketing at Baicells, notes that several countries, including the United States, are already demonstrating the performance benefits of mmWave. Industry measurements have shown that mmWave can deliver very high download speeds on 5G networks, with median speeds in some markets reaching into the gigabit range.
Despite these benefits, mmWave presents technical challenges: its signals have a relatively short range and are easily obstructed by buildings, foliage and other obstacles. As a result, coverage can be patchy unless networks are densely deployed.
“To deliver reliable coverage, mmWave networks must be densified, which requires significant investment,” Eigen says. “Operators are therefore likely to target mmWave spectrum for enterprise private networks that connect large numbers of devices needing high-bandwidth links, such as industrial IoT systems and smart healthcare solutions within controlled environments.”
Eigen adds that mmWave is also well suited to high-traffic public locations—examples include busy shopping streets and sports stadiums—where operators can provide high-capacity coverage to many simultaneous users. Additionally, some operators are exploring mmWave as an economical last-mile solution to extend broadband to homes and businesses, as an alternative to laying fixed infrastructure like fibre in certain scenarios.
Ofcom says the early release of mmWave spectrum will encourage investment in faster, higher-quality services and help drive innovation across consumer and enterprise markets.
The regulator further argues that making both the 26 GHz and 40 GHz bands available at the same time will maximise the potential uses for this spectrum and deliver greater benefits to people and businesses.
To shape the licensing approach, Ofcom has opened a consultation seeking proposals on the design of auctions for citywide and local mmWave licenses. Interested parties can respond using the regulator’s consultation submission form.
(Photo by Bruno Martins on Unsplash)
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