Re-farming 1800MHz spectrum for mobile broadband

As mobile data traffic continues to outstrip voice-centric traffic, one clear candidate for delivering additional spectrum for mobile broadband is the 1800MHz band used by more than 350 operators in 148 countries around the world.

As GSM traffic starts to diminish – a trend already established in advanced markets as subscribers migrate to other forms of mobile communication – operators with 1800MHz spectrum can begin to re-farm the freed up bands for use by mobile broadband radio technologies such as LTE and HSPA.

The 1800MHz band has a number of advantages for use by mobile broadband radio technologies. Its broad global deployment means it provides a good complement for LTE in other bands, for example. It also offers typically 2 x 75MHz spectrum bands that are not very fragmented in most markets.