{"id":25593,"date":"2019-11-20T16:22:57","date_gmt":"2019-11-20T16:22:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/uncategorized\/2019\/11\/20\/fcc-plans-to-free-up-c-band-for-5g\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:19:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:19:39","slug":"fcc-plans-to-free-up-c-band-for-5g","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/battlefield-tech\/it-networks-battlefield-tech\/5g-it-networks-battlefield-tech\/2019\/11\/20\/fcc-plans-to-free-up-c-band-for-5g\/","title":{"rendered":"FCC plans to free up C-Band for 5G"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Federal Communications Commission announced Nov. 18 it plans to hold a public auction for C-band spectrum, freeing up much of the needed space for 5G usage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commercial satellite companies use the C-Band spectrum primarily for satellite communications \u2014 with the military serving as a major customer \u2014 or satellite television, but many telecommunications companies have eyed that same spectrum as the perfect space for 5G.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai\u2019s decision to sell off the spectrum via a public auction was seen as a negative for the four satellite operators that hold that spectrum \u2014 Intelsat, SES, Eutelsat and Telesat. Those companies had hoped to auction off the spectrum themselves and make a return on their investment in the space. Intelsat, the biggest of the four, saw their stocks drop by 40 percent Monday following the announcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pai justified the decision, stating that the FCC needs to free up significant spectrum for 5G quickly while generating revenue for the government and ensuring continued C-band services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter much deliberation and a thorough review of the extensive record, I have concluded that the best way to advance these principles is through an auction of 280 megahertz of the C-band conducted by the Federal Communications Commission\u2019s excellent staff,\u201d Pai said in a letter to lawmakers Nov. 20. \u201cWith a quarter-century track record of transparent and successful auctions, I am confident that they will conduct a public auction that will afford all parties a fair opportunity to compete for this 5G spectrum, while preserving the availability of the upper 200 megahertz of this band for the continued delivery of programming.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t