6G • Spectrum
Upper Mid-Band FR3 (7-24 GHz)
The 6G Workhorse Spectrum: 7.125 GHz to 24 GHz Frequency Range
The foundational spectrum range for 6G offering the optimal balance between wide bandwidth (multi-hundred MHz) and wide-area macro-cellular coverage.
Technical Explanation
While sub-THz frequencies provide extreme speeds, their range is limited to hundreds of meters. Frequency Range 3 (FR3), spanning from 7.125 GHz to 24 GHz (especially the 7-15 GHz sweet spot), is universally acknowledged as the global 'workhorse band' for 6G. By pairing FR3 with Extremely Large Aperture Arrays (ELAA) to overcome propagation path loss, operators can deploy 6G on existing 5G cell site grids while delivering 10 Gbps speeds everywhere.
Key Functions
- Delivers the optimal compromise between expansive coverage and multi-gigabit throughput
- Permits 6G deployment on existing 5G macro-cell tower physical grids
- Provides contiguous spectrum bandwidths of 200 MHz to 500 MHz per carrier
- Serves as the primary global allocation focus for ITU-R WRC-27 Agenda Item 1.7
Specifications
3GPP TR 38.807 FR3 Evolution, ITU-R WRC-27 Agenda Item 1.7
Interfaces
FR3 Radio Unit (RU)FR3 Baseband Filter Array
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