Global 5G spectrum planning, China has decided to launch mid-band 5G commercial

As 5G commercialization approaches, spectrum has become the most critical and scarce resource in the wireless communication industry. With global efforts accelerating to plan for 5G frequencies, China is now taking significant steps to establish its mid-band 5G strategy. On November 15, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) officially released a notice regarding the use of the 3300-3600MHz and 4800-5000MHz frequency bands for fifth-generation mobile communication systems. This decision marks a key milestone in China's early 5G deployment, as these mid-band frequencies are ideal for balancing coverage and capacity. Spectrum is essential in wireless communications, and 5G requires significantly more bandwidth than previous generations. It supports faster speeds, massive IoT connections, and ultra-low latency. To meet these demands, 5G systems have adopted a "full-frequency band" approach, requiring planning across high, mid, and low frequency ranges. However, the mid-band spectrum is currently considered more mature and practical for large-scale deployment. In China, low-band resources have already been allocated for 2G and 4G networks, while the 700MHz band—known as the digital dividend—is controlled by provincial TV companies and not yet available for 5G. As a result, there is no dedicated low-frequency band for 5G in China at this time. Meanwhile, the 3.5GHz band has gained widespread recognition globally as a key frequency for 5G due to its favorable coverage properties. In 2017, MIIT began drafting regulations on the use of the 3300-3600MHz and 4800-5000MHz bands, marking China as the first country to officially announce mid-band 5G spectrum plans. Industry insiders note that many countries and companies are closely watching China’s spectrum allocation strategy, as the Chinese market is the largest and most influential. Once China finalizes its plan, it could accelerate the development of the global 5G industrial chain. However, high-frequency millimeter wave bands remain controversial. While the U.S., Canada, Japan, and South Korea support the 28GHz band, China and the EU prefer the 24GHz solution. Despite some public consultations, millimeter waves are not included in China’s current 5G spectrum plan. Experts suggest that millimeter waves are better suited for indoor hotspots rather than continuous outdoor coverage, which would require an impractical number of base stations. Given the current state of the industry, millimeter wave planning may be delayed in China. With global 5G commercialization timelines advancing, major Chinese operators have begun experimental networks in 2018, with large-scale trials in 2019 and full commercial deployment in 2020. Other Asian countries, such as South Korea and Japan, also aim to launch 5G services around the 2020 Olympics. After spectrum planning is complete, regulators will need to determine how to allocate frequencies among the three major operators. The 3.5GHz band (3400-3600MHz) has been widely tested and is seen as more mature, allowing for continuous network coverage. In contrast, the 4.8GHz band (4800-5000MHz) is still in early testing stages with less developed infrastructure. This difference in maturity will influence how the spectrum is distributed among operators. Currently, China Mobile has strong technical expertise and extensive testing experience, making it well-suited for the 3.5GHz band. However, Telecom and Unicom may struggle financially to keep up with the high costs of 5G infrastructure, which could require over five times more base stations than 4G. Some equipment vendors suggest that China Mobile should take the 3.5GHz band, but they are concerned that regulators might assign the more challenging 4.8GHz band to balance competition.

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