2023-03-26-埃森哲-美国频谱分配报告_48页_8mb

Spectrum allocation in the United States is currently imbalanced, with commercial wireless providers holding only 5% of the lower mid-band spectrum (3–8.4 GHz) compared to government stakeholders (61%) and unlicensed users (36%). This deficit poses a significant barrier to 5G deployment and growth, as 5G demand is surging due to projected increases in mobile data usage—reaching 52GB per month by 2027 in North America. Key drivers include enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC), and massive machine-type communications (mMTC), which require mid-band spectrum for optimal performance.

The imbalance stems from limited current allocations, such as in low-band spectrum where commercial wireless holds 29% versus government's 34%, and it contrasts with global leaders like China, which has allocated three times more mid-band spectrum. This underperformance risks delaying US 5G leadership, hindering economic benefits like job creation ($1.5T GDP contribution) and social advancements—including fixed wireless access (FWA) to bridge the digital divide, support public services (e.g., emergency response), and enable industrial applications.

To address this, the report identifies three critical mid-band bands for reallocation: 3.1–3.45 GHz, 4.4–4.94 GHz, and 7.125–8.4 GHz. Reallocating these as large, contiguous blocks would increase commercial wireless holdings to around 30% in the lower mid-band, reducing the disparity and fostering innovation. Additionally, contiguous spectrum enhances network efficiency, reduces deployment costs, and supports international harmonization. Further solutions include auctions and collaborations, such as clearing spectrum through mechanisms like the C-band transition, to fund infrastructure upgrades.

Failure to act could result in degraded service quality, stunted innovation, and lost economic opportunities, emphasizing the need for policy action to secure more licensed spectrum for commercial use, ensuring the US remains competitive in the global wireless landscape.