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5G networks, spectrum & devices

Richard White — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 15:39:40 +0000

The expanding 5G ecosystem has led operators away from using non-standalone technology. Today, there are few 5G NSA launches, with operators instead opting for 5G standalone, with some operators already beginning to explore the benefits of 5G-Advanced technology.

With these developments, operators can unlock greater potential through network slicing, 5G reduced capability (RedCap) and voice over New Radio (VoNR). Meanwhile, devices and chipsets continue to play a crucial role in the development of 5G, with the ecosystem of compatible devices expanding from the most-premium smartphones to drones, outdoor customer premises equipment (CPE), modules and asset trackers.

Join the GSA Research team to access the latest market data on the status of:

5G networks deploying 5G non-standalone and 5G SS
5G-Advanced network launches
5G RedCap, VoNR and network slicing
Commercially available 5G devices, including form factors, chipsets and spectrum support
5G Private Mobile Networks
5G non-terrestrial networks (NTN)

All of the detail behind this data shared in this webinar is available exclusively to GSA Members and Associates in GAMBoD, GSA’s suite of databases, covering devices, public networks, private networks, chipsets, spectrum assignments, spectrum pricing and a global database of mobile operator technology and spectrum profiles.

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Spectrum Pricing December 2025

Joe Barrett — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 10:54:06 +0000

Spectrum Pricing December 2025

The December 2025 Spectrum Pricing Update provides a comprehensive overview of global spectrum auctions and assignments. It highlights a sharp fluctuation in auction values over recent years: from a peak of $140.1 billion in 2021 to just $7.1 billion in 2025. The report focuses on key spectrum bands, including the C-band, millimetre wave and 700 MHz, noting varying prices driven by competition, licensing terms and economic contexts.

The C-band remains critical for 5G deployment, with prices ranging widely. For example, the United States achieved a high of $0.875/MHz/pop in 2021, while Paraguay’s August 2025 auction fetched just $0.001/MHz/pop. Millimetre-wave spectrum has seen limited activity, with lower valuations; India’s 2022 auction recorded $0.0007/MHz/pop despite significant revenue generation. The 700 MHz band is highly valued for its potential to expand 5G coverage, averaging $0.269/MHz/pop in auctions since 2015.

The report highlights a slowdown in spectrum auctions since 2022. GSA’s 5G Spectrum Auction Tracker monitors these developments; the database is available for Members and Associates.

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GSA Research

Mobile industry research is the backbone of GSA activity and covers topics from devices, chipsets and technology, to networks, features and spectrum.

The GSA research team is constantly following market dynamics and activity to ensure the latest data is available to GSA users via the GSA website.

Data is updated monthly and quarterly and can be referenced by users who register for free on the GSA website and download multiple reports, charts and videos of webinars. GSA welcomes any contributions on industry data from mobile operators, vendors and suppliers what want to ensure accurate industry data is shared globally.

GSA GAMBoD Database

GSA reports are based on extensive data contained in the GSA GAMBoD databases, which is a resource available to GSA members and associates. Companies and policy makers can subscribe, as a GSA associate, to gain access to GSA databases and member reports for additional insights into the source data behind reports, which can be used for their own research purposes.

Discounted annual subscription are available to regulators, government agencies and licensed mobile operators.

Please email info@gsacom.com for more information.

Spectrum Pricing December 2025

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National Spectrum Positions- December 2025

Joe Barrett — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 10:48:56 +0000

National Spectrum Positions – December 2025

Report summary

A snapshot from GSA’s GAMBoD database of national spectrum positions around the world. This report covers 600 MHz, 700 MHz, 1400-1500 MHz, 2.1 GHz, 2300-2400 MHz, 2496-2690 MHz, C-band, 4400-5000 MHz and 26-28 GHz spectrum in each country. Charts are grouped in ITU regions and show over a dozen stages of assignment for spectrum ranges. The detail in this report is based on information stored in the GSA GAMBoD Spectrum Assignments database. Precise spectrum allocation, including operator assignments and band range, are included in the database where known.

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GSA Research

Mobile industry research is the backbone of GSA activity and covers topics from devices, chipsets and technology, to networks, features and spectrum.

The GSA research team is constantly following market dynamics and activity to ensure the latest data is available to GSA users via the GSA website.

GSA GAMBoD Database

Discounted annual subscription are available to regulators, government agencies and licensed mobile operators.

Please email info@gsacom.com for more information.

National Spectrum Positions – December 2025

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Auction Calendar – December 2025

Joe Barrett — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 11:21:03 +0000

Auction Calendar – December 2025

Our December 2025 report provides an up-to-date overview of planned, ongoing and recently completed spectrum auctions and assignments for mobile broadband, 5G and related services globally. It reflects developments since the previous update in August 2025.
GSA has a large Spectrum Group that is active in all regions and is aligned along ITU lines; it is authoring reports about different spectrum areas from low- and mid-band to high-band frequencies.
The auction calendar includes all forthcoming auctions and assignments known to GSA. Auctions and assignments are only included when a definite decision to assign the spectrum has been announced. Spectrum under consideration or consultation for assignment is not included.

Notable upcoming spectrum auctions include: Bolivia, Switzerland, Brazil

Bolivia, January 2026: 1710-1770 MHz/2110-2170 MHz
Switzerland, January 2026: 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz and 26 MHz
Brazil, February 2025: 700 MHz (708-718 MHz/763-773 MHz)

Recent assignments in December 2025 include:

Malaysia: 1800 MHz and 2600 MHz
Canada: 3800 MHz
Georgia: 2100 MHz and 2600 MHz
Germany: 2×10 MHz in 2600 MHz

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GSA Research

Mobile industry research is the backbone of GSA activity and covers topics from devices, chipsets and technology, to networks, features and spectrum.

The GSA research team is constantly following market dynamics and activity to ensure the latest data is available to GSA users via the GSA website.

GSA GAMBoD Database

Discounted annual subscription are available to regulators, government agencies and licensed mobile operators.

Please email info@gsacom.com for more information.

Auction Calendar – December 2025

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Spectrum Pricing September 2025

Joe Barrett — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 10:45:48 +0000

Spectrum Pricing September 2025

The September 2025 Spectrum Pricing Update provides a comprehensive overview of global spectrum auctions and assignments. It highlights a sharp fluctuation in auction values over recent years: from a peak of $140.1 billion in 2021 to just $1.06 billion in 2024. The report focuses on key spectrum bands, including the C-band, millimetre wave and 700 MHz, noting varying prices driven by competition, licensing terms and economic contexts. So far in 2025, over $1.9 billion has been raised in spectrum auctions in Moldova, Costa Rica, Thailand and Vietnam.

The C-band remains critical for 5G deployment, with prices ranging widely. For example, the United States achieved a high of $0.875/MHz/pop in 2021, while Albania’s 2024 auction fetched just $0.041/MHz/pop. Millimetre-wave spectrum saw limited activity, with lower valuations; India’s 2022 auction recorded $0.0007/MHz/pop despite significant revenue generation. The 700 MHz band is highly valued for its potential to expand 5G coverage, averaging $0.288/MHz/pop in recent auctions.

The report highlights a slowdown in spectrum auctions since 2022. GSA’s 5G Spectrum Auction Tracker monitors these developments; the Excel database is available for Members and Associates. Please contact admin@gsacom.com for the full file.

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GSA Research

Mobile industry research is the backbone of GSA activity and covers topics from devices, chipsets and technology, to networks, features and spectrum.

The GSA research team is constantly following market dynamics and activity to ensure the latest data is available to GSA users via the GSA website.

GSA GAMBoD Database

Discounted annual subscription are available to regulators, government agencies and licensed mobile operators.

Please email info@gsacom.com for more information.

Spectrum Pricing September 2025

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mmWave: the broadband business opportunity hiding in plain sight

Richard White — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 16:52:21 +0000

mmWave — once held back by network complexities, spectrum availability and early 5G expectations — is now beginning to deliver on its original promise: ultra-fast, reliable broadband connectivity where it’s needed most. When used strategically as part of a Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) play, it can boost network capacity, drive new revenue streams, and deliver strong business benefits, all while delivering on the social imperative of connecting the unconnected.

The promise of mmWave

5G millimeter wave spectrum uses very high frequencies: 24 GHz and higher on the 5G spectrum chart. In these frequencies, and their abundance lies the great promise of delivering very high-speed broadband in the multi-gigabit range. However, the physics of high-frequency transmission represents a challenge for mmWave communications, which have traditionally suffered from interference and propagation loss.

Until recently, mmWave spectrum was not widespread, limiting the number of operators able to adopt and champion the technology. Today, mmWave spectrum is becoming more widely available and always much less expensive than sub-6 GHz, making it a cost-effective, high-capacity option for operators.

Available spectrum is, of course, only useful when technology is available and sufficiently mature to use it. The 5G ecosystem has grown significantly since mmWave was initially launched. Chipsets are available for mobile and FWA applications and extensive R&D has gone into solutions that overcome many of the challenges of mmWave.

And through deployments and breakthroughs in technology, we’ve shown that mmWave is capable of much more than was once assumed:

mmWave can be used in urban, suburban and rural areas without the need for costly network densification
mmWave can be used in non-line-of-sight conditions
mmWave can avoid environmental disruptions
mmWave can cover distances exceeding 10 km in the right rural environment.

The capacity crunch

The first wave of 5G radio brought new frequency bands to the table, offering significant capacity through increased bandwidth and 5G technologies, later resulted in higher spectral efficiency. These 5G sub-6GHz upgrades were made for enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), but operators soon learned that this additional capacity could generate all new revenues through broadband services delivered by FWA. Sub-6 GHz launched the FWA revolution and made it the #1 new revenue generating use case for 5G.

Of course, nothing comes for free, and many operators have struggled with the reality that FWA customers consume 20 times more data than mobile customers. To sustain growth, operators need additional capacity.

That capacity is available using millimeter wave spectrum at 24 GHz and higher. A typical operator has access to 400-800 MHz spectrum at mmWave compared to ~ 40-50MHz at sub-6 GHz TDD (Time Division Duplex). Therefore, mmWave is ideally suited for providing high-capacity and high-data-rate FWA services.

At congested base stations, mmWave can provide a capacity overlay, serving nearby FWA subscribers and freeing up mid-band resources for mobile users and distant FWA customers. Nokia studies indicate that sub-6 GHz networks can become saturated at 12% penetration of FWA services in suburban areas. With a mmWave overlay, operators can support up to 40% penetration while achieving an 84% higher Discounted Cumulative Cash Flow (DCCF) in year seven. All while leaving plenty of capacity available for mobile broadband.

More than just capacity: a versatile business enabler

mmWave FWA is now proving its value across a range of broadband use cases. Whether in high-traffic urban centers, dense residential areas, or targeted enterprise deployments, mmWave has evolved from a technical curiosity to a strategic enabler of business value that brings a new set of opportunities.

In dense urban areas, mmWave supports premium 5G (fixed and mobile) experiences while easing mid-band congestion
Multi-dwelling units and high-density housing can be served with a single mmWave broadband backhaul enabling operators to serve the entire building while ensuring that every tenant receives the same, consistent level of broadband service
In enterprise and venue environments, it creates opportunities for high-value service tiers and SLAs
For industrial applications, it enables fast and reliable connectivity to locations that can be difficult to reach, enabling high-speed telemetry and video monitoring
For business applications mmWave has the capacity to establish true Ethernet links between business entities with Ethernet PDU (Protocol Data Unit)

Overcoming challenges with intelligent solutions

FWA has adapted in recent years to meet the mmWave challenges of high attenuation and propagation loss. According to GSA’s mmWave Hot Topic, 203 operators in 56 countries are now investing in mmWave network deployments—supported by a growing ecosystem of mmWave-capable devices. Adoption of mmWave FWA has taken time, but its growth is marked by technological advancements.

Fixed Wireless Access devices for the home are far more powerful than ever before. Very high-gain antennas are now capable of picking up reflected signals, which enables non-line-of-sight operation. Devices with a 360-degree view of the radio environment can detect these reflections from any angle to increase the likelihood of finding a usable signal. With the added benefit of intelligent algorithms, they can adapt automatically to changing environments without the need for human intervention, enabling consistent coverage as trees grow, neighborhoods change, and obstructions occur, with sub-6 GHz signals on hand to maintain connectivity under the worst of conditions. And thanks to the latest high-gain antennas, mmWave is being successfully harnessed to provide 5G FWA to rural and remote areas that were previously believed to be impossible to serve with mmWave.

These aren’t just theoretical benefits. NBN Co. in Australia is using mmWave to offer FWA at multiple service tiers, including a gigabit service, to customers who previously only had access to satellite internet services. As of January 2025, NBN had more than 70,000 subscribers using those FWA broadband services and has demonstrated connectivity speeds of up to 2.3 Gbps at almost 9 km from the transmitting site.

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National Spectrum Positions – August 2025

Joe Barrett — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 09:08:53 +0000

National Spectrum Positions – August 2025

This report provides a snapshot of spectrum positions currently used for mobile services across the ITU’s three regions. Drawing on data from the GSA GAMBoD Spectrum Assignments database, it charts the status of key frequency bands, including operator assignments and specific band ranges where available.

The document covers low-, mid-, and high-band spectrum. Low-band frequencies examined include 600 MHz (global status) and 700 MHz in Regions 1, 2 and 3, which are critical for wide-area coverage. Mid-band ranges feature the 1400–1500 MHz band (global status), 2.1 GHz, 2300–2400 MHz, and 2496–2690 MHz across all regions, supporting a balance of coverage and capacity. Higher mid-band and early high-band allocations include C-Band and the 4400–5000 MHz range, both important for capacity expansion in 4G and 5G networks. Developments in the 26–28 GHz range, which underpins ultrahigh-capacity services and emerging 5G uses, are also tracked.

By comparing positions region-by-region, this compilation highlights the pace and breadth of spectrum allocation worldwide, offering valuable insight for monitoring global harmonization, regional differences and opportunities for spectrum refarming or new assignments.

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