The 7/8 GHz band will be a key band for 6G in the U.S., Veena Rawat, senior spectrum adviser to GSMA, predicted at the 6G Symposium on Tuesday (see 2409240032). An examination of additional bands for international mobile telecommunications was approved as an agenda item for the World Radiocommunication Conference in 2027, and 7/8 GHz is on the list, noted Rawat, who chaired the WRC in 2003. The reason for that agenda item is "the need for additional spectrum for 6G has been established,” she said. The 7/8 GHz band is “complex,” with government users, fixed satellites, meteorological satellites and other users. “Fixed you can work with,” she said, adding U.S. government users include DOD, NOAA and the FAA. Studies of 7/8 GHz are underway ahead of the WRC, Rawat said. “You need to know what your newcomer is, what are the characteristics of [the user], what are the parameters.” She added, “That’s the discussion we are having right now.” The studies will focus on protection of incumbents, not 6G, and the conditions under which the band can be shared, she said. Another band ITU is considering, with less promise, is 14.8-15.35 GHz, she said. “It’s good to discuss 14 GHz … but it’s kind of upper mid-band.” Rawat noted that the 600 MHz is being used for 5G worldwide, though not in the Americas, except in Mexico and Brazil. 7/8 GHz is among the bands the national spectrum strategy is studying and has been a top focus of carriers (see 2403120056). However you look at it, 7-24 GHz is “busy” in the U.S., said Tommaso Melodia, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Northeastern University. There is fixed wireless and fixed satellite, radiolocation services, radio astronomy and earth-exploration satellites use “and some of these services have pretty strict interference requirements,” he said. Open radio access networks and the ability to “observe” the network and use algorithmic controls will "potentially be an enabler for spectrum sharing.” ORAN can also enable sharing of information “between different systems, between even different technologies” and use increased data “to make decisions.”

The FCC gave the green light to extended milestone deadlines for EchoStar's 5G network buildout Friday, three days after the company filed its request (see 2409190050). EchoStar called the approval "a significant step to promote competition in the wireless market."

Citing "unanticipated intervening global events beyond [its] control," EchoStar is seeking additional time to meet construction milestones attached to some of its wireless licenses. An advantage EchoStar has is that the FCC wants to see increased national wireless network competition, analysts told us.

Facing $2 billion in debt coming due in November and likely short of the cash on hand it will need to operate in Q4, EchoStar plans to use spectrum assets to raise the funding it needs, CEO Hamid Akhavan said Friday as the company announced Q2 earnings. EchoStar has more spectrum than it needs for its wireless plans, Akhavan said. But the company doesn't intend to dispose or relinquish ownership of spectrum holdings, he said. Instead, it's considering financing options that don't require selling.

T-Mobile on Wednesday became the last of the three major wireless carriers to report Q2 results, announcing it added 777,000 net postpaid phone subscribers and 406,000 fixed wireless subscribers. However, it warned of a financial hit of up to $450 million this year from the shuttering of the affordable connectivity program. Meanwhile, CEO Mike Sievert told analysts T-Mobile is “open-minded” but not set on buying additional fiber assets.

Supplemental coverage from space activities could make radio astronomy impossible from 600 MHz to 2700 MHz and beyond, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory said Tuesday in FCC docket 22-271. NRAO said strong beam coupling or high passband occupation by SCS will destroy or permanently impair a radio astronomy receiver, though this could be mitigated. It said large swaths of spectrum where terrestrial interference has been coordinated away or otherwise obviated will be blocked by bands allocated to SCS. SCS emissions would block even protected bands, NRAO said, noting SCS undermines the protections the National Radio Quiet Zone and other remote locations enjoy today. Accordingly, it said the FCC should make SCS applicants show they can operate without directly illuminating, incapacitating or damaging radio astronomy observatory receivers. NRAO also urged cumulative limits on SCS interference.

T-Mobile will buy “substantially all” of UScellular’s wireless operations in a deal valued at about $4.4 billion, including $2 billion in assumed debt, the companies said Tuesday. The transaction includes about 30% of UScellular spectrum and all the company’s wireless customers and stores. UScellular will remain a tower business. Both companies agreed to a $60 million breakup fee if they back out of the deal. T-Mobile said the transaction is likely to close in mid-2025.

Mexico's 5G auction, set for 2025, “faces hurdles as high spectrum fees deter operator interest,” GlobalData told investors Thursday. The auction will offer licenses in the 600 and 1427-1518 MHz bands, including some covering small geographic areas, and unused licenses in the 800 MHz, 1.7/2.1 GHz, 1.9 GHz and 2.5 GHz bands, the firm said. “Concerns linger as past spectrum license returns highlight the financial strain on operators, potentially impacting the auction's outcome,” GlobalData said.

T-Mobile is considering how to use its growing fiber footprint to further bolster its Home Internet base, CEO Mike Sievert said on a call with investors late Thursday. T-Mobile earlier in the day unveiled a joint venture with infrastructure investor EQT (see 2404250047).

CTIA and its major members agreed that grants of special temporary authority (STA) are the best method of getting “inventory” spectrum into play, in reply comments posted Tuesday in docket 24-72. Others continue to stress the benefits of dynamic sharing and other mechanisms (see 2404090045). The FCC sought comment in March as the agency marked the one-year anniversary of its general auction authority expiring.