Spectrum Options and Allocations for 6G: A Regulatory and Standardization Review
The upcoming sixth generation (6G) mobile communication system is expected to operate across a wide range of spectrum that includes not only the bands used by previous generations but also higher frequency bands such as millimeter wave (mmWave), which are currently assigned to fifth generation (5G)...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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IEEE
2023-01-01
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Series: | IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society |
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Online Access: | https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10210197/ |
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author | Wijdan K. Alsaedi Hamed Ahmadi Zaheer Khan David Grace |
author_facet | Wijdan K. Alsaedi Hamed Ahmadi Zaheer Khan David Grace |
author_sort | Wijdan K. Alsaedi |
collection | DOAJ |
description | The upcoming sixth generation (6G) mobile communication system is expected to operate across a wide range of spectrum that includes not only the bands used by previous generations but also higher frequency bands such as millimeter wave (mmWave), which are currently assigned to fifth generation (5G) networks, terahertz (THz), and optical spectrum. By utilizing a broader range of frequencies, it will be possible to support 6G applications with faster data rates, higher capacity, and lower latency. However, the higher frequency bands pose unique challenges such as higher path loss, absorption loss, and engineering difficulties for antennas and radio frequency (RF) circuitry design, which require advanced technologies and innovative solutions. Given that the spectrum is a scarce resource, efficient management is crucial to ensure the most effective exploitation of frequency bands. The spectrum management has evolved over the years, with different approaches being used to assign and utilize frequency bands. In this paper, we provide a review of spectrum management approaches, including their use in awarding 5G spectrum, and explore their expected use in 6G. We then offer a brief overview of spectrum sharing and its role in enabling the efficient use of spectrum resources. The regulations, standardization, features, limitations, and potential use cases of higher frequency bands such as, mmWave, THz, and visible light (VL) are analyzed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the spectrum options available for the upcoming 6G technology. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:39:05Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-0dba9db2904d4617b104449df98697d4 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2644-125X |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:39:05Z |
publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
publisher | IEEE |
record_format | Article |
series | IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society |
spelling | doaj.art-0dba9db2904d4617b104449df98697d42023-08-23T23:00:08ZengIEEEIEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society2644-125X2023-01-0141787181210.1109/OJCOMS.2023.330163010210197Spectrum Options and Allocations for 6G: A Regulatory and Standardization ReviewWijdan K. Alsaedi0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5646-2843Hamed Ahmadi1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5508-8757Zaheer Khan2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2951-5684David Grace3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4493-7498Institute for Safe Autonomy, University of York, York, U.KInstitute for Safe Autonomy, University of York, York, U.KCentre for Wireless Communications, University of Oulu, Oulu, FinlandInstitute for Safe Autonomy, University of York, York, U.KThe upcoming sixth generation (6G) mobile communication system is expected to operate across a wide range of spectrum that includes not only the bands used by previous generations but also higher frequency bands such as millimeter wave (mmWave), which are currently assigned to fifth generation (5G) networks, terahertz (THz), and optical spectrum. By utilizing a broader range of frequencies, it will be possible to support 6G applications with faster data rates, higher capacity, and lower latency. However, the higher frequency bands pose unique challenges such as higher path loss, absorption loss, and engineering difficulties for antennas and radio frequency (RF) circuitry design, which require advanced technologies and innovative solutions. Given that the spectrum is a scarce resource, efficient management is crucial to ensure the most effective exploitation of frequency bands. The spectrum management has evolved over the years, with different approaches being used to assign and utilize frequency bands. In this paper, we provide a review of spectrum management approaches, including their use in awarding 5G spectrum, and explore their expected use in 6G. We then offer a brief overview of spectrum sharing and its role in enabling the efficient use of spectrum resources. The regulations, standardization, features, limitations, and potential use cases of higher frequency bands such as, mmWave, THz, and visible light (VL) are analyzed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the spectrum options available for the upcoming 6G technology.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10210197/6G communicationsmillimeter waveTHz bandoptical wireless communicationspectrum management approachesspectrum sharing |
spellingShingle | Wijdan K. Alsaedi Hamed Ahmadi Zaheer Khan David Grace Spectrum Options and Allocations for 6G: A Regulatory and Standardization Review IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society 6G communications millimeter wave THz band optical wireless communication spectrum management approaches spectrum sharing |
title | Spectrum Options and Allocations for 6G: A Regulatory and Standardization Review |
title_full | Spectrum Options and Allocations for 6G: A Regulatory and Standardization Review |
title_fullStr | Spectrum Options and Allocations for 6G: A Regulatory and Standardization Review |
title_full_unstemmed | Spectrum Options and Allocations for 6G: A Regulatory and Standardization Review |
title_short | Spectrum Options and Allocations for 6G: A Regulatory and Standardization Review |
title_sort | spectrum options and allocations for 6g a regulatory and standardization review |
topic | 6G communications millimeter wave THz band optical wireless communication spectrum management approaches spectrum sharing |
url | https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10210197/ |
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