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Spectrum Handbook: the WRC-19 update

  • Book

  • 222 Pages
  • March 2020
  • Policy Tracker
  • ID: 5007717

Now in its fifth edition, the Spectrum Handbook is the leading resource for sector professionals seeking to understand the current status and future directions in mobile, satellite and unlicensed spectrum.

The 222-page report is based on wide-ranging interviews with key industry professionals from vendors, operators, OTT players, national regulators, the ITU and regional ITU bodies. It has been comprehensively updated to take account of WRC-19.

The Spectrum Handbook draws on authoritative data from the Spectrum Database of over 4000 licences worldwide and the daily monitoring of spectrum issues in the newsletter.

As we implement the results of WRC-19 and start working on WRC-23 this is an indispensable reference for spectrum professionals. Find out more by downloading our sample pages

Key benefits:


  • A detailed briefing on all the crucial 4G and 5G bands
  • Thorough analysis of the implications of WRC-19
  • Concise overview of priorities for all the leading players:
  • Mobile vendors and operators,
  • OTT companies
  • Satellite industry
  • National regulators
  • Summary of spectrum policy in the 13 largest economies
  • Gives the background needed for international negotiations
  • Instant access to authoritative statistics
  • 96 graphs and charts

Table of Contents

Executive summary


  • Context
  • Spectrum trends
  • Current mobile bands
  • 5G bands
  • Vendors
  • Operators
  • Satellite industry
  • OTT players
  • Policy in the leading economies

1. Introduction


  • Aims
  • Structure
  • The 5G spectrum portfolio
  • Finding new mobile spectrum
  • 5G for vertical industries

2. Current mobile bands


  • Overview
  • 450 MHz
  • 600 MHz
  • 700 MHz
  • 800 MHz
  • 850 MHz
  • 900 MHz
  • L-band
  • 1800 MHz
  • 1900 MHz
  • 2.1 GHz
  • 2.3 GHz
  • 2.6 GHz
  • 3.3 – 3.8 GHz
  • 3.7 – 4.2 GHz
  • 5.1 – 5.9 GHz
  • 26 GHz
  • 28 GHz
  • 40 GHz

3. Possible 5G bands


  • Overview
  • 4.4 - 5 GHz
  • 6 GHz
  • 10-10.5 GHz
  • 32 GHz
  • 47 GHz
  • 70 GHz
  • 71 – 76 GHz and 81 – 86 GHz
  • Above 90 GHz

4. Vendors


  • Overview
  • Samsung
  • Nokia
  • Cisco
  • Ericsson
  • Intel
  • Huawei
  • Qualcomm
  • Amazon
  • Apple

5. Operators


  • Overview
  • AT&T
  • Deutsche Telekom Group
  • Telefónica Group
  • América Móvil
  • Vodafone Group
  • SoftBank Group
  • China Mobile
  • Orange Group
  • Verizon Wireless
  • NTT DOCOMO

6. Satellite


  • Overview
  • Inmarsat
  • SES
  • Echostar

7. OTT players


  • Overview
  • Google
  • Facebook
  • Microsoft

8. Policy in the leading economies


  • Overview
  • China
  • India
  • United States
  • Brazil
  • Japan
  • Germany
  • France
  • United Kingdom
  • Canada
  • Russia
  • Sweden
  • Italy
  • Australia

9. Methodology for diagrams


  • About the Spectrum Database
  • General points about the graphs
  • Specific points about individual diagrams

List of figures


  • Categorizing the 4G bands
  • Categorising the 5G bands
  • Map: ITU regions
  • The 12 most-used mobile bands
  • WRC-19 decisions on mmWave bands
  • Categorizing the 4G bands
  • Possible 5G bands
  • 450 MHz: regional usage by technology
  • Map: 450 MHz in the major economies
  • 700 MHz: Regional usage by technology
  • Comparing the US 700 MHz band plan and the APT band plan
  • The APT band plan
  • Map: Use of 700 MHz paired in the major economies
  • 800 MHz pricing since 1995
  • Map: 800 MHz in the major economies
  • 850 MHz usage by ITU regions
  • Map: 850 MHz in the major economies
  • 900 MHz: Regional usage by technology
  • Map: 900 MHz in the major economies
  • Map: 1400 MHz assignments
  • 1800 MHz: Usage by ITU regions
  • Map: 1800 MHz in the major economies
  • Region 2 mobile allocations
  • Map: Use of 1900 MHz in the major economies
  • 2 GHz: usage by ITU regions
  • Map: 2 GHz in the major economies
  • 2.3 GHz: all licences issued by region
  • Map: 2.3 GHz in the major economies
  • 2.6 GHz: all licences issued by region
  • Map: 2.6 GHz in the major economies
  • 3.5 GHz and 3.7 GHz pricing since 1995
  • Wi-Fi spectrum availability in the 5 GHz band
  • Satellite and mobile bands in 24-28 GHz
  • Satellite and mobile bands in 24-28 GHz
  • AT&T’s global spectrum licences
  • Which bands sub-3 GHz bands AT&T use?
  • Deutsche Telekom's global spectrum licences
  • Which bands does Deutsche Telekom use?
  • Which DT licences will expire in the next five years?
  • Telefonica global spectrum licences
  • Which bands does the Telefonica Group use?
  • Which Telefonica licenses expire in the next five years?
  • Vodafone Group's global licences
  • Vodafone Germany’s current spectrum holdings
  • Vodafone’s current Italian spectrum holdings
  • Which bands does the Vodafone Group use?
  • Which Vodafone licences will expire in the next five years?
  • SoftBank’s global licences
  • Bands used by the Softbank group
  • Softbank’s licences in the US and Japan
  • China Mobile's global licences
  • Which bands does China Mobile hold?
  • When are China Mobile licenses due to expire?
  • Orange global spectrum licences
  • Bands used by the Orange Group
  • Which Orange Group licences will expire in the next five years?
  • Verizon's global licences
  • Which sub-4 GHz bands does Verizon use?
  • Which Verizon licences will expire in the next five years?
  • NTT DOCOMO’s global licences
  • Which sub-3 GHz bands does NTT DOCOMO hold?
  • Operators’ share of sub-3 GHz spectrum
  • National mobile licence holders
  • Spectrum allocated to current mobile services in China
  • Operators’ share of sub-3 GHz spectrum
  • National mobile licence holders
  • US Spectrum holdings weighted by band and population
  • Operators’ share of sub-3 GHz spectrum
  • National mobile licence holders
  • Spectrum allocated to current mobile services in the United States
  • Operators’ share of sub-3 GHz spectrum
  • National mobile licence holders
  • Spectrum allocated to current mobile services in Brazil
  • National mobile licence holders
  • Spectrum allocated to current mobile services in Japan
  • Operators’ share of sub-3 GHz spectrum
  • National mobile licence holders
  • Spectrum allocated to current mobile services in Germany
  • Operators’ share of sub-3 GHz spectrum
  • National mobile licence holders
  • Spectrum allocated to current mobile services in France
  • Operators’ share of sub-3 GHz spectrum
  • National mobile licence holders
  • Spectrum allocated to current mobile services in the UK
  • Operators’ share of sub-3 GHz spectrum
  • National mobile licence holders
  • Spectrum allocated to current mobile services in Canada
  • Operators’ share of sub-3 GHz spectrum
  • Current spectrum assets
  • National licence holders
  • Spectrum allocated to current mobile services in Sweden
  • Operators’ share of sub-3 GHz spectrum
  • Current spectrum assets
  • Spectrum allocated to current mobile services in Italy
  • Operators’ share of sub-3 GHz spectrum
  • Apparatus licences

Companies Mentioned

  • AT&T
  • Amazon
  • América Móvil
  • Apple
  • China Mobile
  • Cisco
  • Deutsche Telekom Group
  • Echostar
  • Ericsson
  • Facebook
  • Google
  • Huawei
  • Inmarsat
  • Intel
  • Microsoft
  • NTT DOCOMO
  • Nokia
  • Orange Group
  • Qualcomm
  • SES
  • Samsung
  • SoftBank Group
  • Telefónica Group
  • Verizon Wireless
  • Vodafone Group