The GSMA says 6G networks will need up to three times the spectrum currently allocated to mobile operators to meet anticipated demands for data.

In a newly published report, [1]Vision 2040: Spectrum for the Future of Mobile Connectivity [PDF], the organization claims that cell networks in densely populated urban areas will be capacity-constrained by 2030, if the mid-band allocations for cellular services remain unchanged.

The report forecasts that 6G networks will begin commercial deployments at the same time (2030), so the GSMA is urging the relevant authorities to move to secure enough spectrum for this purpose as soon as possible. It holds out the specter of slow, congested networks and lost economic opportunities in the next decade as a consequence of failing to act.

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A cynic might point to the fact that the GSMA is a trade association representing the interests of mobile operators, so it's only natural for it to ask for as much spectrum as possible to be allocated to them.

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However, it claims that the report provides a comprehensive assessment of mid-band spectrum needs for mobile networks during the peak 6G era of 2035–2040, and is intended to support policymakers in developing their long-term spectrum roadmaps.

The GSMA's analysis behind its report looks at a range of traffic demand scenarios out to 2040, covering existing mobile use cases such as video streaming, social media, and gaming, plus new and emerging 6G-era applications such as extended reality (XR) and autonomous vehicles.

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Mobile network capacity is expected to increase as operators utilize their existing spectrum more efficiently, but this is not enough to meet the estimated growth in demand, which leads to the GSMA's call for more spectrum to be made available.

The report predicts that demands on network capacity will expand by 15-20 percent over the next five years alone (2025–2030) as more users migrate to 5G and take advantage of the higher speeds.

But beyond that, global mobile network traffic could increase by more than 20 percent per year during the next decade, reaching almost 4,000 exabytes per month by 2040, where an exabyte is a billion gigabytes. This is the equivalent of 360 GB per mobile user per month, the GSMA says.

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Mid-band spectrum refers to frequencies in the 1-6 GHz range, and this is where most mobile services are delivered. 5G networks tend to be found in the 3.3-4.2 GHz portion.

Frequencies the GSMA has its eye on are in the 3.8-4.2 GHz range, which it says could provide an extra 200-400 MHz of capacity; the 4.4-4.99 GHz area, where an additional 400-600 MHz can be found; a further 700 MHz from the upper 6 GHz band (6.425-7.125 GHz); and beyond that the 7.125-8.4 GHz range could deliver 600-1275 MHz of bandwidth.

Access to the upper 3.5 GHz band (referring to that 3.8-4.2 GHz chunk) in conjunction with the 6 GHz band offers "a potential solution to provide immediate spectrum requirements by 2030," according to the report.

Beyond that, the 4.5 GHz and 7-8 GHz frequencies will be needed to meet those longer-term requirements out to 2040, the GSMA claims.

[7]Europe to decide if 6 GHz is shared between Wi-Fi and cellular networks

[8]BT promises 5G Standalone for 99% of the UK by 2030

[9]Mobile industry charts course to smartphone satellite broadband

[10]Trump's budget bill opens wide swath of spectrum for sale

This isn't without its difficulties, which is putting it mildly. As the report acknowledges, "each of these bands have incumbent use," and so it urges regulators and policymakers to plan now for the increased mobile spectrum requirements the GSMA wants later. This takes into account consideration for the lead times required for international harmonization, equipment development, and network deployment.

The upper 6 GHz band is already [11]a bone of contention between mobile operators and the Wi-Fi industry, the latter of which wants the entire 6 GHz band kept license-free so it is available for home and office Wi-Fi networks. US telco regulator the FCC already [12]did exactly this back in 2020.

It looks like the big decisions on this are likely to be made at the World Radiocommunication Conference WRC-27 to be held by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in two years, so the GSMA is setting out its stall early and trying to get governments to negotiate future mobile bands ahead of time.

"6G will not arrive through a single breakthrough. Instead, it will provide capacity for new applications while supporting the development of services emerging today," GSMA director General Vivek Badrinath says in the report's foreword.

"The spectrum choices we make together in the coming years will determine how effectively 6G delivers value. Harmonizing spectrum is a long-term process, and the work undertaken today will shape outcomes throughout the 2030s." ®

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[1] https://www.gsma.com/connectivity-for-good/spectrum/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Vision-2040-Future-Spectrum-Needs.pdf

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[7] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/09/europe_to_decide_if_6/

[8] https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/02/bt_5g_standalone_2030/

[9] https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/06/mobile_satellite_broadband_roadmap/

[10] https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/08/trump_budget_bill_spectrum_auctions/

[11] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/09/europe_to_decide_if_6/

[12] https://www.theregister.com/2020/07/28/nab_spectrum_fcc/

[13] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/