What the carriers need is either new spectrum for 5G or
ways to extend the speedy high-band 5G to more
people. That’s on its way, although not immediately. In
P\DQDO\VLVLWWDNHVDWOHDVW0+]RIGHGLFDWHG
VSHFWUXPWRPDNHDUHDOGL̆HUHQFH0LGEDQG
IUHTXHQFLHVEHWZHHQ+]DQG*+]KDYHWKHPRVW
promise as they can cover cities relatively easily.
T-Mobile already has that available through its Sprint
SXUFKDVHLWMXVWKDVWRWXUQLWRQ$IUHVK0+]
called C-Band, will be auctioned at the end of this year—
that will probably be split up between the three carriers
DQGODXQFKHGLQ$QRWKHU0+]ZLOOJRXSIRU
grabs in mid-2022.
Meanwhile, Verizon is working on ways to extend its
high-band network. The company made a deal with
Pivotal Commware, which makes neighborhood
repeaters that can extend 5G coverage. Future phone
and base station chipsets can also extend high-band 5G
UDQJH7KLVZRQ¶WEHQH¿W9HUL]RQRQO\$OWKRXJK
Verizon makes the biggest deal about its high-band 5G,
all three major carriers have nationwide high-band
holdings.