- SoftBank reports that outdoor tests in Tokyo’s Ginza district demonstrated 7GHz performance on par with its 3.9GHz band, utilizing Nokia-supplied base stations and testing gear.
- Anritsu plans to unveil 6G-focused test and measurement solutions at MWC 2026, featuring software-driven signaling tests and multiband RF validation capabilities reaching up to 16GHz.
- Omdia reports that the 6G sector is shifting into a phase of more coordinated R&D, with spectrum planning playing a growing role.
SoftBank is placing its bets on the 7GHz range to resolve one of the trickiest 6G questions: which spectrum it will ultimately use. In a company update, the operator revealed that outdoor tests in Tokyo’s Ginza district delivered 7GHz speeds on par with those in its existing 3.9GHz band.
This matters a lot today as the 6G discussion tightens quickly. It’s shifting from a “science project” vibe to a focus on what operators can actually roll out in real-world environments without needing a jungle of new sites.
Analyst firm Omdia echoes this view in its latest 6G report, highlighting a shift toward more coordinated R&D efforts. Spectrum availability is emerging as a key focus, standing alongside use-case development and initial standards work.
SoftBank set up an experimental network using Nokia’s base stations and test equipment, with SoftBank itself managing the network design and validation. The operator installed three test base stations in Ginza and ran comparisons against its existing 3.9GHz sites.
The company monitored RSRP (signal strength) and SINR (signal quality) throughout a drive test, measuring 3.9GHz and 7GHz frequencies in real time. According to SoftBank, both frequencies maintained consistently strong performance along the entire route.
Geometry plays a key role in Ginza. SoftBank observed the “urban canyon” effect—reflections and diffraction off buildings—actually aiding 7GHz signals in line-of-sight zones, occasionally outperforming 3.9GHz at those spots.
SoftBank reported nearly no outages in non-line-of-sight areas, using this to challenge the idea that the 7GHz band is strictly limited to short-range use.
At a technical conference hosted by SoftBank, Nokia’s Ari Kynäslahti called the wider 6.4–8.4GHz spectrum a “Golden Band for 6G.” He noted that the 7GHz hardware used in the trial matches the size of 3.5GHz gear but supports more antenna elements, enhancing beamforming capabilities.
SoftBank executive Ryuji Wakikawa linked the spectrum efforts to the company’s wider network strategy, highlighting edge computing and AI-RAN—the concept of handling radio processing alongside AI tasks on a unified GPU-based platform—as key elements in SoftBank’s vision for the future of networks.
Operators are busy gathering field data, and test vendors want to ensure their labs stay ahead. In a January 14 news release, Anritsu announced plans to showcase 6G-focused test and measurement systems at MWC 2026 in Barcelona. These systems emphasize software, virtualization, and AI-assisted workflows, featuring a 6G Test Platform built around a Virtual Signalling Tester—a software-based tool designed for early-stage protocol and radio validation.
Anritsu announced that its MT8000A Radio Communication Test Station now covers “Upper Mid-Band” frequencies up to 16GHz across FR1, FR2, and FR3. It also features software upgrades for non-terrestrial network testing, including Direct-to-Cell and NR-NTN, enabling real-time emulation of satellite and aerial link conditions.
This situation could still become complicated. SoftBank’s data is drawn from a small, operator-managed trial—just three test locations in one of the world’s most favorable dense urban areas. Expanding that to broader coverage introduces tougher challenges around interference control, the expense of equipment, and the practical availability of spectrum in the 7GHz range.
Put together, this week’s updates highlight exactly the shift Omdia describes: 6G is transitioning from conceptual presentations to concrete measurements, tools, and spectrum disputes that regulators and standards organizations will need to address shortly.
