● Following European recommendations and reports, new uses of the 3,800-4,200 MHz band are proposed, such as local enterprise 5G networks, mobile cells to provide electronic journalism or defense services.
● Private 5G networks are gaining traction in sectors such as industry, logistics, health, or education, among others, due to their advantages: low latency, high capacity and reinforced security. The consultation will make it possible to know the needs of companies or detect problems of band sharing
● In addition, the public consultation raises the relevance of devoting the band of 1,900-1,920 MHz — currently used for electronic communications — to state-of-the-art rail communications and to operations of unmanned aircraft systems.
● Reallocating the 1,900-1,920 MHz band to these uses would allow Spain to align with European best practices, optimizing spectrum use for critical applications in the railway and public safety sector
The State Department of Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure has today published a public consultation that will solicit contributions from public bodies, telecom operators, manufacturers, industries, industry associations and other actors on the existing demand for wireless local connectivity networks in the 3,800-4,200 MHz band for new uses such as enterprise 5G local networks, mobile cells to provide electronic journalism or defense services.
Private 5G networks are gaining traction in sectors such as industry, logistics, health, or education, among others, due to their advantages: low latency, high capacity and reinforced security.
The consultation will make it possible to know the needs of companies or detect problems of band sharing, and is aligned with the latest European reports and the European Commission's Implementing Decision on the most suitable uses for this band.
Reallocation of the band 1.900-1.920 MHz
Likewise, the query raises the relevance of reallocating the use of the band 1,900-1,920 MHz, which is now allocated for electronic communications, and using it for other uses.
In particular, it is proposed to attribute the range 1,900-1,910 MHz to the future Railway Mobile Communications System (FRMCS), a system more technologically advanced than the current GSM-R, which would allow new applications and ensure railway interoperability and modernization of railway communications in Spain.
The question also asks about the advisability of allocating the range 1.910-1.920 MHz to operations of unmanned aircraft systems (drones), especially those that perform functions of public interest in security, emergencies or civil protection, as recommended by the European reports.
The reallocation of this spectrum would allow Spain to align itself with European best practices, optimizing the use of spectrum for critical applications in the railway and public safety sector. Since 2020, the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) has been studying and preparing Reports, Recommendations and Decisions on the use of the band 1,900-1,920 MHz or parts thereof for the aforementioned communication systems.
La public consultation It will remain open until the 25th of November 2025.