Tag Archives: C-Band

Recap of the Canadian 3800 MHz C-band Spectrum Auction

The 3800 MHz spectrum auction in Canada concluded with total proceeds of C$2.158 billion (US$1.6 billion) for a nationwide allocation of 250 MHz (link to results on ISED web site). To put this result in perspective, the 3500 MHz auction, which concluded in July 2021, raised C$8.91 billion for a nationwide average of 111 MHz.  The 3800 MHz… Read More »

Observations on Canada’s 3800 MHz Frequency Spectrum Auction

Update – April 2023. We published a report on the expected valuation of the Canadian 3800 MHz auction. For additional information see here. Canada will auction its 3800 MHz C-band spectrum beginning on October 24, 2023 [see here]. This is very late! The auction includes 250 MHz between 3650 and 3900 MHz. Together with the 3450 – 3650… Read More »

5G vs. Radio Altimeters: A Storm in a Tea Cup?

The row between the wireless and aviation industries on potential interference between 5G and aircraft radio altimeters is sounding like a storm in a tea cup! The genesis of this dispute is a report in October 2020 by the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) citing potential interference to altimeters operating in the 4.2 – 4.4 GHz band… Read More »

5G Power Consumption: How mmWave and C-Band Compare

At the conclusion of the C-Band auction, I wrote that deployments of millimeter wave technology would largely stop. Even as Verizon reaffirmed its commitment to deploying mmWave, I believe that these plans would be downscaled in due time. This is because the cost for mmWave would strongly suggest this direction. Over the past week, many had questions on… Read More »

FCC C-Band Auction 107 Outcome and Consequences

Update: The assignment phase concluded since I wrote this post. You can download summary of the results by entering your name and email here. The clock phase for FCC C-Band Auction 107 has concluded in 97-rounds raising a record $80.92 Billion. The auction moves to the assignment phase. The proceeds exclude up to $13 B in additional fees… Read More »

5G Spectrum Valuation Benchmarks

How much is 5G spectrum worth? Xona Partners published two reports on recent 5G spectrum auction valuation benchmarks. The first is a report on international mid-band spectrum auctions in the 3 – 5 GHz band. The second is a report on millimeter wave spectrum auctions in the 24 – 42 GHz bands. Both reports provide details of the… Read More »

The Skyrocketing C-Band Valuation

The FCC concluded Auction 102 netting over $2 billion for over 2,900 licenses in the 24/25 GHz band. A good milestone, but more critical is the availability of 3.5 GHz spectrum which has better performance tradeoffs than millimeter wave spectrum. With all the talk about the ‘5G race’, availability of mid-band spectrum makes the most difference on who… Read More »

WRC-15: Win Some, Lose Some

WRC15 concluded with new spectrum assigned for mobile services: L-band:  1427-1518 MHz is now assigned for fixed and mobile services. The L-Band is used for mobile satellite services. Technical measures need to be developed for co-existence with mobile satellite in 1518-1559 MHz. The 1350 – 1400 MHz was also a target for IMT, but it did not get… Read More »