Spectrum sharing might not be an immediate issue in some countries that have ample unallocated spectrum to support 5G, Wi-Fi and other networks based on unlicensed spectrum. That is not the case in the U.S. market, where nearly all low-band and mid-band spectrum already is allocated to licensed users.
As a practical matter, if more low-band and mid-band spectrum is to be made available for 5G, Wi-Fi and other networks,, it will have to involve some form of effective spectrum reassignment.
Traditionally, we have had only one blunt-force tool: moving existing licensees off the desired spectrum. That takes time and is expensive.
Spectrum sharing is an arguably superior way to minimize time and cost, while preserving existing licensee usage and simultaneously creating usable 5G or Wi-Fi spectrum, even when the capacity is available solely in unlicensed form. Spectrum aggregation mechanisms are the second key technology advance that would allow use of both licensed and unlicensed spectrum as though it were one physical channel.
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission, for example, now is exploring ways to use spectrum sharing to free up as much as 1200 MHz of spectrum in the mid-band (5.925-7.125 GHz band) for unlicensed uses.
It might not be unreasonable to suggest that, eventually, nearly all low-band and mid-band spectrum could use spectrum sharing, in principle.
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