The FCC has issued a Notice of Inquiry (PDF) concerning new spectrum bands it is eying for potential 5G deployments.
Until now, the FCC has targeted 5G deployments in spectrum below the 3.7 GHz band and above the 24 GHz band. Now it is considering some bands in between, specifically 3.7 to 4.2 GHz, 5.925 to 6.425 GHz, and 6.425 to 7.125 GHz. The FCC is seeking comments on the potential of these spectrum bands and hopes to learn how they can be best used for fixed and mobile wireless services while protecting existing services from interference.
It also wants to know how it can best monetize these bands while offering licensed and unlicensed access for public and private entities. The FCC is accepting comments on its web site.
U.S. wireless network operators are already exploring various paths to 5G, even though the standard and specific blocks of airwaves for 5G haven’t been defined.
