GSMA Urges Global Regulators: Unlock Mid-Band Spectrum to Make 5G Sustainable and Affordable
In a recent appeal, the GSMA has called on global regulators to significantly increase the availability of mid-band spectrum—warning that without it, achieving the United Nations’ broadband speed targets will become vastly more expensive, environmentally damaging, and ultimately unfeasible in many regions.
A new study by Coleago Consulting, commissioned by GSMA, reveals a stark reality: in cities allocated less than 800 MHz to 1 GHz of mid-band spectrum, the total cost of 5G deployment could soar by $782 million to $5.8 billion per city. This dramatic increase stems from the need to deploy far more base stations—and associated infrastructure—to compensate for limited spectrum capacity.
The Hidden Costs of Spectrum Scarcity
Without adequate mid-band spectrum, operators face a triple penalty:
- Higher capital expenditure due to denser network deployments
- Increased carbon footprint from thousands of additional antennas and power-hungry sites
- Rising consumer prices as costs are passed down to end users
“In some markets,” GSMA warns, “it will be impossible to realize the full potential of 5G without additional spectrum allocation.”
What’s Needed? 2 GHz of Mid-Band Spectrum Per City
To meet the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) targets—100 Mbps download and 50 Mbps upload speeds for urban populations—the mobile industry requires an average of 2 GHz of mid-band spectrum per city by 2030.
These targets are based on population density and exclude high-traffic zones like business districts, tourist hubs, or commuter corridors—meaning real-world demand could be even greater.
A Global Opportunity: WRC-23
The upcoming World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23) presents a critical chance to harmonize international spectrum policy. GSMA urges policymakers to prioritize mobile-friendly bands such as:
- 3.5 GHz (already widely used for 5G)
- 4.8 GHz
- 6 GHz (especially the upper 6 GHz band for wide-area 5G)
Allocating these bands for licensed 5G use would not only ensure performance targets are met—but also minimize environmental impact and keep consumer costs low.
IPLOOK: Building Resilient 5G Cores for a Spectrum-Constrained World
While spectrum policy evolves, network efficiency has never been more crucial. At IPLOOK, we design our 5G Core Network solutions with maximum spectral and energy efficiency in mind—supporting advanced features like network slicing, intelligent traffic steering, and cloud-native scalability to help operators do more with less.
We stand ready to support operators navigating the challenges of spectrum scarcity with high-reliability, cost-effective, and future-proof core networks.
Interested in optimizing your 5G strategy?
Contact us today for a consultation.
