Regulators are preparing to make the 3.5GHz band the first 5G spectrum band

摘要

On October 24, 2017, the US regulator, the FCC, issued a proposal for comment to revise the rules governing the 3.5GHz band in an effort to better reflect the changes in technology and promote investment. The proposal is currently under consultation; specifically, the regulator is looking for feedback on changes to the rules governing the second service tier of the band's three-tier framework. The Australian regulator, the ACMA, has similarly been looking at this band and is keen to encourage greater shared access to spectrum in the future. As technology develops and the world progresses to next-generation services such as 5G, which has far greater capacity requirements, it will become important to explore alternatives to exclusive licensing frameworks.