Abstract

This chapter addresses the role of sustainability and spectrum access in the context of the next generation of mobile communication networks after 5G — namely 6G. The radio spectrum continues to be the key resource for any wireless connectivity solution and presents a major control point to stakeholders. 5G spectrum decisions have already shown growing fragmentation, about not only spectrum bands but also spectrum management approaches covering administrative allocation, market mechanisms and the unlicensed commons. The global-scale deployment of 5G networks is ongoing. Spectrum regulators are in a key position to shape the future societies through their spectrum management decisions by allocating spectrum bands among different radio communication services and assigning access rights to different stakeholders. The role of spectrum continues to be important in the development of the next generation of mobile communication systems.