A quick overview of the global 5G spectrum

For now, the latest progress, price, and distribution of the world’s 5G spectrum following:(any inaccurate place, please correct me)

1.China

First, let’s look at the 5G spectrum allocation of the four major domestic Operators!

China Mobile 5G frequency band:

2.6GHz frequency band (2515MHz-2675MHz)

4.9GHz frequency band (4800MHz-4900MHz)

China Unicom 5G frequency band:

3.5GHz frequency band (3500MHz-3600MHz)

China Telecom 5G Frequency band:

3.5GHz frequency band (3400MHz-3500MHz)

China Radio International 5G frequency band:

4.9GHz(4900MHz-5000MHz), 700MHz frequency spectrum has not yet been determined and not clear frequency yet.

 2. Taiwan, China

At present, the bidding price of the 5G spectrum in Taiwan has reached 100.5billion Taiwan dollars, and the bidding amount for the 3.5GHz 300M(Golden frequency) has reached 98.8billion Taiwan dollars. If there are no operators to compromise and give up part of the spectrum demand in recent days, the bidding amount will continue to rise.

Taiwan’s 5G bidding includes three frequency bangs, of which 270MHz in the 3.5GHz band will start at 24.3 billion Taiwan dollars; 28GHz bans will start at 3.2 billion, and 20MHz in 1.8GHz will start at 3.2 billion Taiwan dollars.

According to the data, the bidding cost of Taiwan’s 5G spectrum(100 billion Taiwan dollars) is only less than the amount of the 5G spectrum in Germany and Italy. However, in terms of population and license life, Taiwan has already become the world’s number one.

Experts predict that Taiwan’s 5G spectrum bidding mechanism will allow operators to increase 5G cost. This is because the monthly fee for 5G is probably more than 2000 Taiwan dollars, and it is far exceeding the fee of less than 1000 Taiwan dollars that the public can accept.

3. India

The spectrum auction in India will involve nearly 8,300 MHz of spectrum, including 5G in the 3.3-3.6GHz band and 4G in 700MHz, 800MHz,900MHz,1800MHz,2100MHz,2300MHz, and 2500MHz.

The bidding price per unit of 700MHz spectrum is 65.58 billion Indian rupees(US $923 million). The price of the 5G spectrum in India has been very controversial. The spectrum was not sold at auction in 2016. The Indian government set the reserve price at 114.85 billion Indian rupees(1.61 billion US dollars) per unit. The auction reserve price for the 5G spectrum was 4.92 billion Indian rupees(69.2 US million)

4. France

France has already initiated the first phase of the 5G spectrum bidding process. The French Telecommunications Authority( ARCEP) has released the first phase of the 3.5GHz 5G spectrum grant procedure, which allows each mobile network Operator to apply for 50MHz of the spectrum.

The operator applying is required to make series of coverage commitments: the operator must complete 3000 based station of 5G by 2022, increasing to 8000 by 2024, 10500 by 2025.

ARCEP also requires licensees to ensure substantial coverage outside large cities. 25% of sites deployed from 2024-2025 must benefit sparsely populated areas, including priority deployment locations as defined by regulators.

According to the architecture, France’s four existing operators will receive 50MHz of spectrum in the 3.4GHz-3.8GHz band for a fixed price of 350M Euro. A subsequent auction will sell more 10MHz blocks starting at 70 M Euro.

All sales are subject to the operator’s strict commitment to coverage, and the license is valid for 15 years.

5. The US

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) previously conducted millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum auctions with total bids exceeding US$1.5 billion.

In the latest round of spectrum auctions, bidders have increased their bids by 10% to 20% in each of the past nine auctions rounds. As a result, the total bid amount seems to reach 3 billion U.S. dollars.

Several parts of the US government have some disagreement on how to allocate a 5G wireless spectrum. The FCC, which sets spectrum licensing policy, and the Commerce Department, which uses some frequencies for weather satellites, are in open conflict, critical for hurricane forecasting. The transport, energy, and education departments also opposed plans to open up radio waves to building faster networks.

The United States currently releases 600MHz of the spectrum that can be used for 5G.

and The United States has also determined that the 28GHz(27.5-28.35GHz) and 39GHz(37-40GHz) frequency bands can be used for 5G services.

 6. European Region

Most European regions use the the3.5GHz frequency band, as well as 700MHz and 26GHz.

5G spectrum auctions or commercials have been completed: Ireland, Latvia, Spain (3.5GHz), and the United Kingdom.

Auctions of the spectrum that may be used for 5G have been completed: Germany (700MHz), Greece and Norway (900MHz)

5G spectrum auctions have been identified for Austria, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Sweden, and Switzerland.

 7. South Korea

In June 2018, South Korea completed the 5G auction for the 3.42-3.7GHz and 26.5-28.9GHz frequency bands, and it has been commercialized in the 3.5G frequency band.

The Ministry of Science and Information and Communication Technology of South Korea previously stated that it hopes to increase the bandwidth of 2640MHz in the 2680MHz spectrum currently allocated for 5G networks by 2026.

The project is called the 5G+ spectrum plan and aims to make South Korea have the world's widest 5G available spectrum. If this goal is achieved, a 5G spectrum of 5,320MHz will be available in South Korea by 2026.