Hong Kong has completed the testing and validation of its first Upper 6 GHz (U6GHz) mobile network. The deployment uses newly allocated spectrum in the 6/7 GHz frequency range, which is being considered for increasing 5G-Advanced network capacity and supporting future 6G development.
The test confirms the use of Upper 6 GHz spectrum in a mobile network environment. However, commercial coverage, supported devices and the wider rollout schedule have not yet been announced. So, now let us look into how Hong Kong Validates Its First Upper 6 GHz Mobile Network for 5G-Advanced and Future 6G Services along with Reliable LTE RF drive test tools in telecom & RF drive test software in telecom and Reliable Indoor cellular coverage walk testing tool in detail.
Upper 6 GHz Spectrum Allocation in Hong Kong
Hong Kong completed its 6/7 GHz spectrum auction on 29 November 2024, becoming the first market to auction this frequency range for public mobile services.
Three mobile operators received 100 MHz of spectrum each, making 300 MHz available for mobile network deployment.
The operator involved in the latest validation received the 6570–6670 MHz frequency block, providing 100 MHz of continuous bandwidth.
This additional spectrum can be used alongside existing 5G frequency bands to increase network capacity, particularly in areas with high mobile data usage.
Why Upper 6 GHz Is Being Tested for 5G-Advanced
Most existing 5G networks use a combination of low-band and mid-band spectrum to provide coverage and capacity.
Upper 6 GHz offers additional bandwidth for areas where existing frequency bands may be heavily loaded.
Compared with lower frequencies, signals around 6.6 GHz generally experience higher propagation loss over the same distance. Building materials, vegetation and other obstacles can also affect signal reception.
Radio planning therefore needs to consider antenna configuration, transmission power, building density and the distance between base stations.
For urban deployments, the main objective is to increase data capacity while maintaining acceptable signal quality across the service area.
Combining Upper 6 GHz with Existing 5G Bands
The network announcement indicates that Upper 6 GHz can be combined with existing spectrum to support download speeds of up to 3 Gbps.
This can be achieved through suitable multi-band radio configurations, including carrier aggregation where supported.
Carrier aggregation allows compatible devices to use multiple component carriers, increasing the total radio bandwidth available for data transmission.
Actual throughput depends on the bandwidth assigned, signal quality, modulation, antenna configuration, device support and network loading.
The reported 3 Gbps figure represents a stated network capability. Detailed measured throughput results from the Mong Kok validation have not been published.
Earlier Outdoor and Indoor Radio Testing
Before the latest validation, Upper 6 GHz radio testing had already been conducted near Tin Shui Wai Sports Centre in September 2024.
The trial used a 5G New Radio base station installed approximately 23 metres above ground level.
Engineers examined outdoor coverage, indoor signal penetration and downlink throughput under different radio conditions.
The tests included line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight scenarios to understand how the frequency band performs around buildings and other obstacles.
These measurements provide useful information for planning future Upper 6 GHz deployments.
RF Testing Requirements for Upper 6 GHz Networks
Network engineers will need to verify coverage and performance before extending Upper 6 GHz services to additional locations.
Drive testing can measure SS-RSRP, SS-RSRQ, SINR, download throughput, upload throughput and latency.
Indoor walk testing can help identify signal loss through walls, windows and building structures.
Testing should also include cell-edge performance, interference, carrier aggregation behaviour and connection stability under different traffic conditions.
Comparing measurements across existing 5G bands and Upper 6 GHz will help determine where the additional spectrum provides measurable capacity improvements.
Next Steps for Hong Kong’s Mobile Networks
The completed validation provides a starting point for further Upper 6 GHz deployment.
Additional testing will be required to confirm device compatibility, mobility performance, indoor coverage and network capacity under higher traffic loads.
The same spectrum range may also support future 6G radio systems, subject to technical standards and equipment availability.
For now, Hong Kong’s Upper 6 GHz deployment remains a network validation milestone rather than a confirmed territory-wide commercial service.
About RantCell
RantCell provides automated mobile network testing and continuous performance monitoring using Android devices connected to a cloud platform. Engineering teams can schedule tests for data speeds, ping, voice calls, SMS, web access and video streaming without manually operating each device. Tests can run at selected intervals to check service availability and identify performance changes. The cloud dashboard provides test results, KPI analysis and reporting to support RAN validation, software upgrade testing and ongoing 4G and 5G network monitoring. Also read similar articles from here.