By Jon Reid
The Federal Communications Commission has moved to free up more high-frequency airwaves for mobile carriers gearing up to launch next-generation wireless networks.
The commission June 7 approved a plan setting rules on sharing and operating on the 24 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum band that it will auction to mobile carriers like Verizon Communications Inc. and AT&T Inc. in November. The FCC also started a rule-making to make frequencies in the 26 GHz and 42 GHz bands available. A gigahertz is a unit of measurement for radio frequencies.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has prioritized freeing up spectrum for mobile carriers working on next-generation 5G networks. The agency's order follows two other spectrum orders in 2016 and 2017, coming closer to carriers' demands for spectrum in their race to become the first to launch a 5G network.