Rosenworcel Makes Case for 5G Spectrum Auction

The race is on to introduce 5G services. And it’s not just the cellular service providers and their suppliers that are interested in leading on this front. Countries around the world are too. And many of them are doing their best to get a jump on their neighbors.  

Being first to market with 5G will bring with it bragging rights, for sure. More importantly, however, it could provide a country, and the companies within it, with greater influence in 5G. And that could lead to larger market share and the ability to generate more wealth.

That's why regulators in the U.S. need to get busy and make new spectrum available for 5G, FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel opines in this recent TechCrunch guest column.

The U.S. was first to deploy 4G, she notes. And now the country has 15 percent of global 4G connections, she says. U.S. companies run operating systems on nine out of 10 smartphones worldwide. And our wireless services tgenerate $400 billion in annual economic activity, she says.

“While the United States can claim that it has been at the front of the pack in the past, its success in the future – especially when no spectrum auctions are scheduled – is far from secure,” she warns.

“We need to schedule our next auction now,” the Democrat adds, suggesting that the FCC (News - Alert) start with the 28GHz band, and then do auctions of high-frequency bands.

Mobile World Live in October reported that “Future spectrum auctions in the U.S. could be put on hold indefinitely if the FCC can’t find a way to comply with a law related to how upfront payments from bidders are held.”

AT&T (News - Alert) is among those that have been pushing for FCC 5G spectrum auctions sooner rather than later. It is seeking an auction, based on a voucher system, for millimeter wave spectrum – specifically 39GHz band spectrum.

While the U.S. tries to get its spectrum auction ducks in row, Rosenworcel says other countries are moving forward on 5G. She notes that:

• China is working on 5G standardization and has committed to invest more than $400 billion in 5G infrastructure.

• Europe Union members have signed an agreement for a common foundation for a 5G network.

• South Korea and Japan are pursuing early 5G deployments in time for the 2018 and 2020 Olympics, respectively. And South Korea is expected to have a 28GHz band auction in October.

• And last month, the United Arab Emirates authorized the use of 5G technologies “paving the way for build-out this year.”