The wireless industry in America will need more than 350 MHz of new licensed spectrum by 2019 to meet demand for mobile broadband, said CTIA-The Wireless Association.
In 2010, the FCC projected a licensed spectrum deficit of nearly 300 MHz by 2014. Today’s report updates the FCC’s forecast to identify the additional 366 MHz necessary to meet the estimated six-fold increase in mobile data traffic by 2019.
“We now need to execute on a new five year plan to identify and re-allocate over 350 MHz of new spectrum for licensed mobile broadband services,” said Meredith Attwell Baker, president and CEO of CTIA.
The telecom analysis noted that more cell sites and carrier deployment of new technologies will address the mobile data demand in coming years. Wireless carriers such as AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile US, Sprint, among others, have invested almost $150 billion in them over the last five years, said CTIA-The Wireless Association.
