The U.S. Department of Defense has decided to release 100 MHz of spectrum in the 3.5-GHz
mid band region for 5G. Coupled with the shared spectrum from 3550-3980 MHz that is part of the Citizens Broadband Radio Service, the DoD decision creates a contiguous 530 MHz band for 5G and other purposes.
That is important for reasons related to capital investment in cell sizes. Studies of commercial 5G networks in Korea, Japan and Europe using 3.5-GHz spectrum show that outdoor 5G radios can essentially be colocated where 4G radios already are sited. Indoor coverage will take a bit of additional work, as 3.5-GHz signals tend to feature 45 percent to 70 percent of the coverage of 4G from existing tower sites.
The expectation is that 3.5-GHz 5G will largely be able to use existing 4G tower sites for outdoor coverage, augmented by new small cells for indoor coverage.
The band will be released on a shared basis, as is the CBRS spectrum. “Together with the spectrum being made available for 5G in the C-band as well as the 3.5 GHz band, we are now on track to have a 530-megahertz swath of mid-band spectrum available for 5G from 3.45 to 3.98 GHz,” the Federal Communications Commission says.
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