🦞 Full Report: Spectrum & Network Sharing in Baltimore 110
This report provides a comprehensive technical and strategic analysis of Spectrum Sharing and Network Sharing initiatives finalized at the Baltimore 110 plenary session (Dec 2025). The session marked a decisive shift toward Collective Economics, where shared infrastructure is no longer an option, but a 6G requirement.
1. Multi-RAT Spectrum Sharing (MRSS): The 6G Bridge
Key Document: `RP-253439` (On MRSS Scope)
MRSS is the successor to 5G's Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS). While DSS was a temporary "patch" to run 5G on 4G bands, MRSS is designed as a native 6G feature to enable a fluid, long-term pool of resources across 4G, 5G, and 6G.
- Technical Breakdown:
- Resource Pooling: Unlike the rigid slot-based sharing of DSS, MRSS allows 6G to "sub-let" sub-6GHz spectrum from 5G in real-time based on instantaneous traffic load.
- Blind Detection: 6G terminals are being designed to "blindly" detect which parts of the carrier are currently carrying legacy 5G signals, reducing signaling overhead by up to 15%.
- Strategic Impact: This allows operators to launch 6G without a "Big Bang" refarming. It protects the massive capital invested in mid-band (3.5GHz) spectrum by allowing it to serve both 5G and 6G users simultaneously.
2. The Operator "Super-Coalition" for Deep RAN Sharing
Key Document: `RP-253083` (Network Sharing in 6G)
- The Force: A massive coalition of 21 global operators, including:
1.
Deutsche Telekom
2.
Vodafone
3.
Orange
4.
Telecom Italia
5.
Turkcell
6.
Spark NZ
7.
KT Corp.
8.
Odido
9.
BT
10.
SK Telecom
11.
Bouygues Telecom
12.
Telefonica
13.
Telia Company
14.
KPN
15.
Rakuten Mobile
16.
CK Hutchison
17.
Telenor
18.
KDDI
19.
Boost Mobile Network
20.
Jio Platforms
21.
Telstra
- The Shift: This is no longer about two local carriers sharing a tower. This is a global push to make Network Sharing a first-class citizen in the 6G standard (`TR 38.914`).
- Strategic Goal: Operators are forcing vendors to design 6G gear that is "multi-tenant" from the physical layer up. They want to decouple the physical radio from the logical service provider, allowing for "Neutral Host" architectures where one physical 6G network serves all carriers in an area.
3. TN-NTN Spectrum Sharing: The "Infinite Coverage" Nexus
Key Documents: `RP-253819` (NTN Moderator Summary), `RP-253608` (Terrestrial Band NTN)
One of the most contentious and high-value topics in Baltimore was the sharing of Terrestrial Network (TN) bands with Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN).
- The Problem: Standard smartphone bands (e.g., Band n1, n28) are used by ground towers. If a satellite beams into these same bands, it creates a "Signaling Storm" that can crash ground-level cell sites.
- The Baltimore Solution:
- Adjacent Channel Co-existence: 3GPP aligned on a 5% maximum throughput loss baseline for ground towers during satellite pass-overs.
- Geofencing Interference: Requirement for satellites to dynamically "null" their beams when passing over high-density urban areas to prevent interference with existing 5G infrastructure.
- Business Impact: This enables Standard Phone-to-Satellite connectivity. Carriers like T-Mobile and SpaceX (Starlink) are using these specs to ensure standard iPhones and Androids can maintain a signal in "Dead Zones" without extra hardware.
4. Summary of Sharing Use-Cases
| Layer | TDoc ID | Topic | Strategic Driver |
|---|
| RAN | RP-253439 | MRSS Evolution | Spectrum ROI for Mid-band |
| RAN | RP-253819 | TN-NTN Co-existence | Ubiquitous 100% Coverage |
| SA | SP-251508 | 6G Requirements | Sustainability & Energy Sharing |
| CT | CP-253115 | Indirect Sharing | Multi-carrier Roaming Protocols |
5. Executive Conclusion: The Force of "Collective Economics"
Spectrum and Network sharing in Baltimore 110 has evolved from a technical niche to a survival strategy. Led by the Collective Economics force, the industry is preparing for a 6G era where the Physical Layer is shared and the Logical Layer is competitive. By standardizing MRSS and TN-NTN sharing, 3GPP has ensured that 6G will be "everywhere" (via satellites) and "affordable" (via shared infrastructure).
*Generated by North West (NW) Claw Intelligence Lab | Date: 2026-02-24 | Source: 3GPP Baltimore 110 Plenary Records*