Running across a high-band 5G signal is as rare as finding Mew while playing Pokemon
That might have dazzled some Americans, but not the ones who knew that high-speed data does not travel very far and is easily blocked by trees, houses, and other structures that get in the way. Very few Americans can access mmWave signals, but, many more U.S. smartphone users can lock into T-Mobile’s mid-band 5G signal running at an average download data speed of 300Mbps, 7.5 times faster than 4G LTE.
FCC plans to auction off more 2.5GHz mid-band spectrum this July
According to CNET, FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is having her regulatory agency auction off airwaves in the prime 2.5GHz location. And not that T-Mobile is under pressure to add to its mid-band holdings, the word is that it will be bidding in an effort to obtain more 2.5GHz mid-band spectrum in order to enhance its 5G capabilities.
The Democrat spoke during the MWC keynote discussing the importance of getting an early start for the build out of 6G. And Rosenworcel even took a shot at Verizon and AT&T by mentioning how the two carriers shouldn’t make the same mistake again by falling in love with the blinding download speeds of mmWave spectrum. For as fast as it is, if no one can ever manage to connect to it, those signals are worthless.
FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel says no to forget the lessons learned with mmWave
The FCC chairwoman actually phrased it like this. “Let’s not forget the lessons we’ve learned with millimeter wave spectrum and 5G,” she said. “These waves are fragile. And while there’s a lot of this spectrum to deploy, it doesn’t travel very far, and right now deploying it is awfully costly.”
Rosenworcel also talked about 6G and mid-band. She wants to start identifying where there is mid-band coverage now that can support faster speeds and wider coverage when the 6G build out begins. And she says that it is not too early to do this. “We’ve got to learn from what came before and recognize that emerging technology … benefits from a little advance planning,” she said.
