FCC Proposes Auction of 25 MHz of Mid-Band Spectrum in the 1675-1695 and 2020-2025 MHz Bands for 5G and Direct-to-Device Services
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted on October 29 in Washington to propose a new spectrum auction of 25 megahertz of prime mid-band spectrum in the 1675-1695 MHz and 2020-2025 MHz bands, for advanced services including direct-to-device (D2D) operations and flexible-use terrestrial networks such as 5G.
The FCC said D2D technology has seen a surge of investment and innovation, with more than $45 billion in D2D deal flow approved by or submitted to the FCC in the past year alone, driving growing demand for D2D spectrum. The October 29 vote starts the process for the latest FCC spectrum auction.
The plan follows the recent completion of a $3.5 billion auction of AWS-3 inventory spectrum, with 160 megahertz of Upper C-band spectrum to be auctioned by July 2027. In total, the administration plans to make up to 400 megahertz of spectrum available for commercial use through auction by 2028, including spectrum in the 2.7 GHz and 7 GHz bands.
Specifically, the notice proposes reallocating the 1675-1695 MHz band on a co-primary basis for fixed and mobile (except aeronautical mobile) services for new non-federal use, and on a secondary basis for mobile satellite service (MSS) for domestic supplemental coverage from space (SCS), subject to the outcome of NTIA's study of the band. It also proposes a secondary MSS allocation for domestic SCS in the 2020-2025 MHz band.
The action was taken by Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 26-70, in WT Docket Nos. 26-284 and 19-116 and GN Docket No. 26-281, with Chairman Brendan Carr and Commissioners Anna Gomez and Olivia Trusty approving and issuing separate statements. Interested parties may comment through the FCC's proceedings.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：美国海军水兵在军舰上使用卫星电话。美国海军照片，经 Wikimedia Commons，公共领域。 / Photo: A U.S. Navy sailor uses a satellite phone aboard a ship. U.S. Navy photo, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
