6Ghz band authorised for mobile use by ITU
A PROPOSAL to utilise the 6GHz (6.425-7.125GHz) frequency band for mobile services in Cambodia has been approved at the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) 2023 World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC) held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The development enables the Kingdom to access an additional range of radio frequencies (RF), which will significantly contribute to the construction of digital infrastructure, according to a December 16 press release from the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications.
Cheang Sopheak, director general of the RF Spectrum Resource Management department at the ministry, led the Cambodian delegation to the assembly, held from November 20 to December 15.
The release stated that the event is held every three to four years, organised by ITU’s Radiocommunication Bureau and attended by 180 member countries and numerous prominent technology companies worldwide.
The conference’s agenda included discussions on various critical issues which included developing a joint policy on frequency usage for radio services over the next four years, revising communications regulations, allocating frequencies in line with technological advancements and addressing other important topics.
During the assembly, Sopheak and his delegation engaged in discussions about defending, revising and limiting the use of bands by Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) member countries.
They also considered a special proposal by several countries, including one from the Asia-Pacific region, to allocate the 6GHz band for mobile services, along with participating in deliberations on requests from other countries.
“The proposal for Cambodia to utilise the 6GHz [band] for mobile services was approved at the meeting. The approval signifies that Cambodia will have access to an additional 700MHz of radio frequencies for the fifth and sixth generations of mobile services,” the announcement stated.
Additional key outcomes included utilising frequencies for services provided directly from satellites and highaltitude stations (20km above the Earth) in areas lacking mobile phone service.
Other results involved extra bandwidth for telecommunication satellites, notably for the Internet of Things (IoT) and aerial imagery, and procedures to protect existing services from interference by new ones.
“These outcomes will significantly contribute to the development of digital infrastructure, supporting the implementation of digital government policies and the digital economic and social framework in Cambodia,” the ministry stated.
“The RF spectrum is a rare national resource that must be meticulously managed to effectively utilise this scarce resource, thereby generating national income and maximising economic growth,” telecoms minister Chea Vandeth previously stated.
He emphasised that these resources would significantly contribute to the development of infrastructure and support the digital revolution which aims to expand the coverage of high-speed mobile and internet services – underpinning the use of digital technology as a crucial mechanism in the Kingdom’s digital transformation.