Dubai, November 20 – December 15 2023

The World Radio Conference 2023 will decide on the IMT identification of the upper 6 GHz band.

WRC-23 Regional Groups positions for Agenda Item 1.2 upper 6 GHz band

(as of October 12th 2023)

Click on the logo for each region for more information.

RCC
APT
ASMG
ATU
CITEL
CEPT
RCC
APT
ASMG
ATU
CITEL
CEPT

As national administrations and industry members gather to review and update the global use of radio frequencies in Dubai, mobile operators emphasise the need to harmonise the use of the upper 6 GHz band for wide-area IMT services. This will support high-performance 5G mobile telecommunications networks to drive the progress of digital economies.

Licensed 6 GHz is a key opportunity for society

5G is an important driver of socio-economic development, a pillar of digital opportunity and an enabler of new applications and services that can thrive with the right resources.

Spectrum is the oxygen that is needed for 5G networks to develop, flourish and benefit society. Mid-band frequencies have been essential in the initial roll-out of 5G with the 3.5 GHz band being deployed as the launchpad for 5G networks worldwide. However, traffic growth trends after launch indicate that additional mid-band spectrum will be required beyond 2025. This will address increased urban connectivity demand in the places where people live, learn, commute, work and play.

6 GHz is a crucial capacity resource for the future development of public mobile networks and allows similar performance to 3.5 GHz spectrum. For most countries worldwide, it represents the only opportunity in the mid-band range in which mobile can continue to grow so that 5G – from augmented reality to the industrial internet – can reach all corners of society.

Without additional mid-band spectrum, operators will not be able to offer 5G performance and services in a cost-effective manner citywide and without unavoidable impacts on society. Citizens will be also indirectly affected as it may be difficult to realize the vision of smart cities. Without additional mid-band spectrum to enable Fixed Wireless Access solutions, households in busy villages and towns will equally miss on the race of bridging the digital divide.

Enabling 5G through mid-band, 6 GHz spectrum will drive countries forward in the race to net zero and be a cornerstone of efforts to bridge the digital divide.

Why 6 GHz?

Citywide Usage
  • AR / VR
  • Gaming
  • Enhanced and interactive mobile experiences
  • In-car entertainment
  • Streaming at locations of special interest
Sustainable Smart Cities
  • Video surveillance and facial recognition
  • Vehicle to network communications
  • Traffic management
Industry 4.0
  • Transport
  • Construction
  • Manufacturing
  • Remote object manipulation (AR / VR)
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)
  • Residential
  • Enterprises

Latest News

Statement
Posted 17 November 2023

Statement on support for 6 GHz IMT

IMT identification of the Upper 6 GHz band (6 425 – 7 125 MHz) at WRC-23 is critical for the evolution of 5G and the benefit of the digital society

  • IMT is a key pillar of the digital transformation: providing reliable, high capacity, low latency and wide-area connectivity to the digital society and industries.

  • Upper 6 GHz band is key to address mobile broadband growth and the evolution of 5G, including new use cases, in a cost effective and environmentally sustainable way.

  • To maximize the benefits of the digital society, any IMT technical conditions resulting from WRC-23 should
    enable wide-area 5G services while providing appropriate protection to incumbent services.

The co-signing telecom operators provide connectivity through mobile and fixed broadband (including Wi-Fi)

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6 GHz Webinars

We have recently completed a series of events covering the importance of the 6 GHz band for IMT, sharing the latest updates in relation to technical research, standardization, ITU progress and more. Click below to watch replays from each session.

6 GHz Events

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RCC:

Supports IMT identification for 6425-7100 MHz in Region 1 and globally

Proposed technical conditions for FSS (E-s) based on the Expected EIRP mask (for 6425-6525 MHz only)

Other conditions for FSS Earth stations, FS stations, SOS and SRS stations (7100-7250 MHz).

Outcome from the RCC final WRC-23 preparatory meeting
(Russian Federation, 4-8 September 2023)

6425-7100 MHz (Region 1 and globally):

  • Support the IMT identification with the following conditions:
    • it should not impose additional regulatory/technical restrictions on FSS Earth stations, FS stations as well as on SOS and SRS stations operating in the 7100-7250 MHz band;
    • FSS (E-s) protection can be provided based on RR Article 21, however for IMT BS with AAS an expected EIRP spectral density mask should be applied in the 6425-6525 MHz band;

7100-7125 MHz (globally):

  • In the case of IMT identification, protect existing services from interference in the same band and in adjacent bands (including FS stations as well as space stations of SOS, SRS and EESS (passive)); no additional technical or regulatory restrictions on FS, SRS and SOS stations should be imposed
    (Methods 4D and 5D)

APT:

Supports IMT identification for 7025-7125 MHz in Region 3

Possible new AI for WRC-27 for 6425-7025 MHz in Region 3

Outcome from APT final WRC-23 preparatory meeting
(Australia, 14-19 August 2023)

  • APT Members support identification of the frequency band
    7025-7125 MHz for IMT globally     through Method 5C together with a new WRC Resolution. APT Members are considering whether this proposed new WRC Resolution could be combined with a potential WRC Resolution for 6 425-7 125 MHz in Region 1, if agreed

(*) APT common proposal on WRC-23 AI1.2

ASMG:

ASMG supports identification of 6425-7025 in Region1 and 7025-7125 MHz globally for IMT by creating a new RR footnote associated to a  new Resolution that includes technical conditions to protect FSS (E to S) based on ‘’Expected EIRP mask’’ ( for 6425-7125 MHz).

ASMG regional common proposal submitted to WRC-23 Outcome from the final ASMG meeting in preparation for WRC-23 (Bahrain, Sept. 9-13)

6425-7025 (Region 1), 7025-7125 MHz (globally):

  • ASMG supports identification of 6425-7025 in Region 1 and of 7025-7125 MHz globally for IMT by creating a new RR footnote associated to a new Resolution
  • The proposed resolution includes technical conditions to protect FSS (E to S) based on ‘’Expected EIRP mask’’ ( for 6425-7125 MHz) corresponding to Alternative 2 example 3 of the CPM report.

ATU:

Supports IMT identification for 6425-7125 MHz.
Proposed technical conditions for FSS (E-s) based on the “Expected EIRP mask”.

Outcome (*) from the final ATU WRC-23 preparatory meeting
(Cameroon, 7-11 August 2023)

6425-7025 (Region 1), 7025-7125 MHz (globally):

  • Support IMT identification band with technical conditions contained in a draft new WRC Resolution
    (Methods 4C and 5C)
  • FSS (E-s) coexistence: based on the “expected EIRP mask”,
    Example 3 in the CPM report

(*) Outcome from the final APM meeting

CITEL:

NOC for 6425-7125 GHz for all Regions.

Outcome from CITEL final WRC-23 preparatory meeting
(Canada, 28 August – 1 September)

6425-7125 MHz (globally):

  • Administrations propose NOC for the identification of the frequency band 6425-7125 MHz for IMT in all Regions.

(*) Documents from the final Permanent Consultative Committee II (PCC.II) meeting on WRC-23 preparation./RES. 156 (XLII-23)

CEPT:

Willing to accept IMT identification for 6425-7125 MHz,

5 conditions including technical conditions for FSS (E-s) coexistence based on the “Expected EIRP mask”.

Outcome (*) from the CEPT final WRC-23 preparatory meeting
(Ireland, 18-22 September 2023)

6425-7025 (Region 1), 7025-7125 MHz (globally):

  • Accept IMT identification under the following conditions explained in a draft Resolution:
    • Protection of existing primary services
    • Continued operation of radio astronomy and EESS (passive) for sea surface temperature (SST) measurements. Proposing new primary allocations at 4.2-4.4, and 8.4-8.5 GHz
    • No limitations imposed on the existing services and their future development
    • Outlining opportunities for WAS/RLAN use of the band as well as flexibility regarding the future usage in Europe (i.e. IMT, WAS/RLAN or under a shared framework between IMT and RLAN) (**)
    • No IMT agenda item for WRC-27 studying additional IMT identifications within 7-30 GHz where IMT would have the potential to jeopardise important European space and governmental spectrum
  • FSS (E-s) coexistence: based on the “expected EIRP mask”, proposing a mask that is not contained in the CPM report

(*) Approved European Common Proposal from the final CPG-23 meeting

(**) Europe will consider, by 2024 or later, the best usage of the band: either IMT, or RLAN or a shared use between IMT and RLAN

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