Ahead of decisions to be made at WRC-27 on the identification of the 7125-7250 GHz band, the European Union has considered a number of ways in which the upper 6 GHz band can be split, or prioritised, between licence-exempt use and IMT, with a firm conclusion pending the outcomes of the 7 GHz band discussions. In particular, there are conflicting proposals on how the lower 160 MHz of spectrum in the band should be allocated.

One particular concern within Europe is the amount of spectrum available for IMT identification. In countries where there are many mobile operators, assigning all operators an exclusive licence of spectrum could mean that there is insufficient spectrum for any one operator to run a network at maximum efficiency; however, there are likely to be mitigations against this, and it is debateable how much this will impact on consumer experience.

In this study, we look at how different configurations of the upper 6 GHz band may impact on the way that operators in markets deploy the spectrum, whether there will be a significant impact on service quality, and how this may lead to changes in consumer welfare and economic outcomes. We consider the potential impact of IMT use of the upper 6 GHz band being limited to 600 MHz, rather than expanded to a full 700 MHz or even awarded alongside the lower 6 GHz band. We look at the competitive market in Europe, the ways in which 6 GHz spectrum may be awarded, and attempt to quantify impacts on service quality, competition and macroeconomic indicators.