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The Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) has warned that delays by governments and regulators in making decisions on the 6GHz spectrum band are beginning to hold back investment in the mobile infrastructure needed to support growing 5G traffic and future 6G networks.
The mobile industry body is urging policymakers to provide clearer and more timely plans for the upper portion of the 6GHz band, arguing that uncertainty over its allocation is making it harder for operators to plan long-term network investments.
The warning comes as mobile networks face rapidly increasing demand for data and prepare for the transition from advanced 5G technologies to early 6G deployments.
GSMA Pushes for Upper 6GHz Allocation
The GSMA is particularly calling for the 6.425GHz to 7.125GHz portion of the spectrum to be made available for full-power mobile services.
The upper 6GHz band provides about 700MHz of additional mid-band spectrum, making it potentially valuable for expanding network capacity in densely populated areas while supporting wider channels required by newer mobile technologies.
The band was identified for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) use at the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23), establishing an international framework for mobile use in applicable regions and subject to national regulatory decisions.
According to the GSMA, countries representing more than 80% of the world’s population now support mobile use of the upper 6GHz range.
Operators Need Regulatory Certainty
GSMA Director General Vivek Badrinath said the mobile ecosystem is ready to deploy the spectrum, but governments now need to convert international agreements into national policies that give operators confidence to invest.
The association argues that prolonged uncertainty can delay network expansion because operators need visibility over future spectrum availability before committing substantial capital to infrastructure.
The GSMA therefore wants governments to include the upper 6GHz band in clear, forward-looking spectrum roadmaps rather than leaving its eventual use unresolved.
6GHz Seen as Bridge to 6G
The industry’s interest in the band extends beyond immediate 5G capacity requirements.
The GSMA views additional mid-band spectrum as an important part of the transition from 5G-Advanced to 6G, particularly as future networks are expected to require significantly wider channels.
The organisation says the upper 6GHz band could support channel bandwidths of between 200MHz and 400MHz, which could become important as networks evolve to handle increasingly data-intensive applications.
The additional capacity could help mobile operators manage demand in urban environments while creating room for emerging services that will rely on faster and more responsive wireless connections.
First Assignments Already Underway
While regulatory decisions remain outstanding in many markets, the process has already moved forward in some countries.
The first assignments of upper 6GHz spectrum have been completed, with additional allocations expected across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Asia-Pacific and the Americas as individual countries develop their spectrum strategies and assess market demand.
The GSMA is consequently pushing for regulators to provide greater certainty on how and when the spectrum will become available for mobile operators.
Growing Pressure on Mobile Networks
The debate comes against the backdrop of rapidly expanding mobile data consumption.
Operators are already investing heavily in 5G infrastructure, while the expected emergence of new applications involving artificial intelligence, connected devices, cloud services and other data-intensive technologies is likely to put further pressure on network capacity.
GSMA research has previously warned that future 6G networks could require substantially more spectrum than today’s mobile systems. A 2025 GSMA report estimated that 6G networks may need up to three times today’s spectrum to accommodate projected data demand.
For densely populated cities in particular, additional mid-band spectrum could become critical to maintaining network performance as traffic increases.
Spectrum Policy Becomes a Strategic Issue
The allocation of the upper 6GHz band remains part of a broader policy debate, with regulators weighing the needs of mobile operators against other potential uses of the spectrum.
The GSMA, however, argues that the band represents a major opportunity to increase mobile capacity and support the development of next-generation networks.
For operators, the issue is not simply about obtaining additional frequencies. Clear spectrum policies can determine where companies direct billions of dollars in infrastructure investment and how quickly new network technologies reach consumers.
The GSMA is therefore calling for timely, investment-friendly spectrum decisions, arguing that governments have an opportunity to use the upper 6GHz band to support their digital connectivity ambitions.
As the mobile industry moves from 5G-Advanced towards 6G, the decisions regulators make on the 6GHz band could ultimately determine how quickly networks can expand capacity and prepare for the next generation of mobile services.
