Friday, July 29, 2016

47-GHz Ham Band Protected – For Now – From 5G Wireless Growth



If you're wondering about the value of the ham bands in the gigahertz (GHz) portion of the RF spectrum, just ask any engineer working on developing 5G wireless broadband networks. This band is among many frequencies being considered at the next World Radiocommunication Conference in 2019 (WRC-19) to possibly accommodate next generation 5G wireless networking.

The ARRL reported that a new FCC recommendation in advance of the conference included 11 gigahertz of spectrum above 24.25 GHz for consideration, but did not include the 47.0-47.2 GHz amateur allocation. This band is allocated to amateurs on a primary basis worldwide, but could still face pressure as demand for broadband wireless bandwidth continues to grow.