6G Spectrum Sharing Shows Promise, But Faces Significant Technical and Economic Challenges

NEW YORK, Feb. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 6G standardization efforts are underway, with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) identifying candidate spectrum bands for IMT-2030, or 6G. According to new findings from ABI Research, a global technology intelligence firm, the upper 6 GHz band and the 7–8 GHz range are expected to emerge as key areas of interest for early 6G development. Other frequencies, including low-band, high-band, and even terahertz (THz) spectrum, are also under evaluation but are expected to play a secondary role. At the same time, policymakers and industry stakeholders are examining whether the 6 GHz band can be shared with other systems using spectrum-sharing schemes.

“Although theoretically possible, advanced spectrum sharing has proven to be complex and costly, requiring centralized entities to invest significant effort, capital, and processing power to ensure that no interference occurs,” said Dimitris Mavrakis, Senior Research Director at ABI Research. “This is certainly the case for CBRS—let alone for a system as widely deployed as 6G, which may ultimately reach nationwide scale.”

The most recent World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23) concluded that the 6–8 GHz band will be the most important for 6G, with the upcoming WRC-27 continuing discussions for the next generation. ABI Research expects uplink and downlink communications to utilize different spectrum bands to ensure maximum efficiency, particularly as uplink capacity is likely to be constrained in the short term. As a result, technologies such as Supplemental Uplink (SUL) and Downlink/Uplink Decoupling (DUDe) may play a more prominent role than they do today.

Substantial work remains before 6G spectrum allocations are formally defined. The 6 GHz band is already contested in many markets, where it has been assigned to license-exempt use for Wi-Fi. China stands apart, having allocated most of the 6 GHz band to cellular use and expected to push for global 6G harmonization around this spectrum. As a result, WRC-27 is shaping up to be a decisive moment for the future 6G frequency roadmap.

These findings are from ABI Research’s 6G Spectrum Developments in early 2026 Application Analysis report. This report is part of the company’s 5G, 6G and Open RAN research service, which includes research, data, and ABI Insights. Based on extensive primary interviews, Application Analysis reports present in-depth analysis on key market trends and factors for a specific technology.

About ABI Research

ABI Research is a global technology intelligence firm uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology solution providers and end-market companies. We serve as the bridge that seamlessly connects these two segments by providing exclusive research and expert guidance to drive successful technology implementations and deliver strategies proven to attract and retain customers.

ABI Research是一家全球性的技术情报公司，拥有得天独厚的优势，充当终端市场公司和技术解决方案提供商之间的桥梁，通过提供独家研究和专业性指导，推动成功的技术实施和提供经证明可吸引和留住客户的战略，无缝连接这两大主体。

For more information about ABI Research’s services, contact us at +1.516.624.2500 in the Americas, +44.203.326.0140 in Europe, +65.6592.0290 in Asia-Pacific, or visit www.abiresearch.com.

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Jason Scheer
Tel: +1.516.624.2558
pr@abiresearch.com

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