The GSMA has warned of a showdown between the US and EU at the upcoming World Radiocommunication Conference in Egypt. The ITU conference which occurs every four years will take key decisions on the frequencies designated for 5G development. The mobile industry group is concerned that Europe is taking too restrictive a stance on mmWave spectrum due to concerns about interference with existing applications and called on the region to take a more liberal approach, as the Americas have decided.
The dispute centres on the 24-28 GHz range. While the 26 GHz band has been named one of three 'pioneer bands' for 5G in the EU, this comes with restrictions on the strength of mobile radios in certain ranges, in order to avoid interference with existing satellite services, as well as limiting certain applications such as mobile broadband in the higher part of the range.
The GSMA warned that this "protectionist" stance will hold back the development of 5G in the EU and reduce the benefits to the economy. It pointed to the US, where mmWave spectrum, including the 28 GHz band, is already being used, and suggested this is why the fastest 5G speeds are available there already. "The benefits of using this spectrum are clear but only through global harmonization at WRC-19 will all regions gain the greatest value," said Tom Power, Senior Vice President and General Counsel at the US mobile industry group CTIA.
The GSMA said technical studies supported by the Americas, Africa and Arab states have demonstrated that 5G using mmWave spectrum can co-exist safely and efficiently alongside weather-sensing services, commercial satellite services and others. These were conducted within the ITU.
In the US, the FCC developed emission limits on 5G to protect weather sensors in nearby spectrum bands. Ahead of WRC-19, the FCC and the State Department also worked with regulators from other countries throughout the Americas, achieving consensus at the CITEL conference in Ottawa in August.
Brett Tarnutzer, Head of Spectrum at the GSMA, said Europe's current technical restrictions would require large guard bands between 5G spectrum and adjacent services, limiting the potential for the new mobile technology and the benefits to industry and consumers.
"We are calling for Europe to join the US in taking a pro-5G stance at WRC-19 to protect its digital future. Some administrations are still determined to limit mobile use of airwaves that 5G requires to reach its full potential. This protectionist attitude will have consequences for our global economy if allowed to prevail."
