ABI Research outlines 6G spectrum priorities

Application Binary Interface (ABI) Research reported that 6G standardization efforts were underway and that the International Telecommunication Union had identified candidate spectrum bands for IMT-2030; the findings related to early 6G development choices.

ABI Research noted that the upper 6 GHz band and the 7–8 GHz range were expected to emerge as focal areas for early 6G work, while other frequencies including low-band, high-band, and terahertz spectrum were under evaluation and were expected to play secondary roles. The report also stated that the 6 GHz band was contested in many markets and had been assigned to license-exempt use for Wi‑Fi in some places, and that China had allocated most of the 6 GHz band to cellular use and was expected to advocate for harmonization around that spectrum.

The research described how uplink and downlink communications were anticipated to use different spectrum bands to increase efficiency, and that uplink capacity was likely to be constrained in the short term. The report identified Supplemental Uplink (SUL) and Downlink/Uplink Decoupling (DUDe) as technologies that may play a more prominent role than they did previously. The World Radiocommunication Conference in 2023 concluded that the 6–8 GHz band was central to 6G discussions, and WRC-27 was set to continue those talks.

The findings appeared in ABI Research’s 6G Spectrum Developments in early 2026 Application Analysis report. That report formed part of ABI Research’s 5G, 6G and Open RAN (ORAN) research service, which included research, data, and ABI Insights, and the Application Analysis reports presented in-depth analysis based on extensive primary interviews.

“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.

ABI Research said substantial work remained before 6G spectrum allocations were formally defined and that WRC-27 would continue discussions shaping the 6G frequency roadmap.