Page1of113 Re-Evaluating Spectrum Regulation:5G and Beyond V Sridhar International Institute of Information Technology BangaloreICRIER and the Vodafone IdeaCentre for Telecom (InViCT)vsridhar@iiitb.ac.in Rohit Prasad Management Development Institute GurgaonICRIER and the Vodafone Idea Centre for Telecom (InViCT) Table of Content Executive Summary.........................................................................................................viAcknowledgements and Disclosure................................................................................viiiChapter 1: Spectrum Allocation and Assignment in a 5G+ World...................11.Introduction...............................................................................................................12.Spectrum Bands for Mobile Services...........................................................................43.Unlicensed Spectrum..................................................................................................54.Spectrum for Non-Terrestrial Satellite Networks.........................................................65.Backhaul Spectrum.....................................................................................................86.Spectrum Allocation: Principles and Controversies....................................................106.1Technology-Neutral vs. Service-Specific Allocation..................................................107.Spectrum Assignment Mechanisms for Access...........................................................127.1Administrative Assignment: Centralized Control and Legacy Practices...................127.2Market-Based Assignment: Auctions........................................................................137.3Assignment Conditions: Duration, Renewals, and Usage Obligations.....................177.4Spectrum Caps..........................................................................................................187.5Reserve Prices............................................................................................................197.6Geographic Scope: Service Area Definitions.............................................................208.Spectrum for Universal Access..................................................................................209.Rethinking Spectrum Assignment for the 5G Era........................................................219.1A Spectrum Policy Inflection Point............................................................................219.2Arguments for Subsidization: Spectrum as Public Infrastructure.............................219.3Auction Design for Fair, Efficient, and Future-Ready Assignment............................22Appendix 1.1: The 3GPP Spectrum Bands........................................................................23Chapter 2: Research Methodology...............................................................271Research Objectives..................................................................................................272Research Methodology.............................................................................................272.1Empirical Analysis.....................................................................................................272.2Interviews with Experts.............................................................................................27 3.1Auctions, Pricing, and Market Structure...................................................................283.2Licensed vs. Unlicensed Spectrum: The 6 GHz Debate..............................................283.3Local and Private Networks......................................................................................293.4Spectrum Sharing Models and Their Limits..............................................................303.5High Frequencies and Future Bands.........................................................................303.6Satellites, Convergence, and New Frontiers.............................................................313.7Overall Synthesis.......................................................................................................31 Chapter 3: Empirical Analysis of 5G Spectrum Auctions across Countries.....32 1.1The First 5G Auction in South Korea.........................................................................321.2The High-Priced 5G Upper Mid-Band Auction in Taiwan..........................................33 2UK: Auction of 700 MHz and Upper Mid-Band...........................................................35 2.12018 Auction of Upper Mid-Band.............................................................................352.22021 Auction of 700 MHz and Upper Mid-Band.......................................................36 3.1Finland: At the Forefront of 5G Spectrum Auctions..................................................36 Chapter 4: Spectrum Co-existence in the 5G Era.............................