Spectrum

Qualcomm Still Pushing for Sidelink Rulemaking

The company wants to make public safety gear with government spectrum that NTIA is eyeing for mobile use

Jake Neenan

Jul 29, 2026 — 3 min read

Photo by Isaac N. via Unsplash

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2026 – Qualcomm is still interested in accessing part of a spectrum band the government is studying for mobile use.

The chipmaker wants 5 megahertz of the 1675-1695 MegaHertz (MHz) band for a 5G “sidelink” service that would allow public safety devices to share data directly with each other in the event mobile coverage was poor or disrupted after a natural disaster.

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Spectrum Qualcomm FCC Brendan Carr AT&T T-Mobile Michael Calabrese NTIA NCTA WIA

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