SoftBank Corp. has launched Japan’s first outdoor trial of the 7GHz band for 6G, partnering with Nokia to evaluate centimeter-wave spectrum performance using Massive MIMO technology. The trial, which began in June 2025 in Tokyo’s Ginza district, is testing three pre-commercial base stations operating in the 7,180–7,280 MHz range. The goal is to verify whether this spectrum can provide reliable, contiguous urban coverage comparable to current 5G Sub-6 networks.
The 7GHz band falls within the 3GPP’s FR3 range (7–24 GHz) and is under consideration for 6G at the upcoming ITU World Radiocommunication Conference 2027 (WRC-27). With propagation characteristics similar to Sub-6 frequencies and nearly 2GHz of potential contiguous spectrum when paired with Band n104, the 7GHz range offers a balance of speed and signal reach ideal for dense urban environments. This makes it a compelling candidate for addressing rising mobile data demand driven by AI applications and increasing urban congestion.
SoftBank’s trial involves co-locating the 7GHz test stations alongside existing 3.9GHz 5G infrastructure to benchmark performance. Future phases will expand into indoor and broader outdoor environments to support ongoing 6G research and standardization. Nokia is supplying the Massive MIMO base stations and test devices.
- SoftBank is the first Japanese telecom operator to trial the 7GHz band outdoors for 6G
- Trial sites: 3 rooftop stations in Tokyo’s Ginza district
- Spectrum: 7,180–7,280 MHz within the broader FR3 band (7–24 GHz)
- Goals: Compare with 5G Sub-6 coverage, test Massive MIMO at centimeter-wave frequencies
- 7GHz band to be discussed at WRC-27 as a global 6G candidate
“We are excited to collaborate with Nokia to explore the potential of the 7GHz band in real-world conditions and contribute to the global development of 6G,” said a SoftBank spokesperson.
