Spectrum

Carriers Push FCC for Extra Upper C-Band Spectrum

CTIA wants 220 megahertz of Upper C-Band for 5G; Congress only guaranteed 100 megahertz.

Jericho Casper

Oct 1, 2025 — 2 min read

Screenshot of CTIA President and CEO Ajit Pai speaking with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr at the 2025 CTIA 5G Summit on May 6, 2025.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2025 – Wireless carriers are eyeing more mid-band spectrum than Congress promised.

A law enacted in July called for 100 megahertz of Upper C-band to be auctioned, but wireless industry association CTIA last week asked the Federal Communications Commission for more than double that.

In a Sept. 24 meeting with FCC staff, CTIA representatives urged the FCC to make “as much as 220” megahertz of Upper C-Band available for full-power terrestrial wireless use. They were joined by executives from AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.

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