NGMN seeks vendor confirmation of MRSS performance on existing hardware and frequency bands to minimise 6G migration options
Dusseldorf, Germany – 29 October 2026 – Infrastructure vendors have been asked to consult on whether Multi-RAT Spectrum Sharing (MRSS) can operate on existing hardware deployments and in existing frequency bands without adversely affecting performance, in an information query submitted by the Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance (NGMN).
Building on NGMN’s updated operator guidance issued in conjunction with the 3GPP plenary meeting in September, NGMN’s Board of Directors has asked vendors to confirm whether MRSS can operate on existing RAN hardware/product deployments and in existing frequency bands.
Vendors are expected to provide evidence or confirmation of any adverse performance impact across the current RAN hardware/product portfolio, including any impact on supported product configurations and frequency bands.
NGMN’s mobile network operator (MNO) Members seek to keep the number of 6G migration options to an absolute minimum. As set out in NGMN’s recent publication, MRSS is the preferred approach and should be the sole migration option if it meets the required performance and total cost of ownership (TCO) criteria. The aim is to avoid standardising additional options where MRSS already meets operators’ requirements.
NGMN’s Board of Directors will keep individual vendor responses confidential and use them solely to assess whether alternative migration options are required and, if so, which options should be pursued. The findings will inform NGMN’s updated guidance to 3GPP ahead of the December plenary meeting.
Laurent Leboucher, Chairman of the NGMN Alliance Board and Orange Group CTO and EVP Networks, commented: “The technical solution to transition from 5G to 6G will determine the experience operators will be able to offer to their 5G and 6G customers, and the 6G deployment cost. Therefore, the ongoing debate in 3GPP on migration options is critical for a healthy 6G introduction and we need to learn from the past when 5G was introduced.
“NGMN believes MRSS is the most favourable approach to share spectrum dynamically between 5G and 6G users, but uncertainty remains on its ability to be supported by 5G equipment already in the field, which prevents making an informed decision in 3GPP. In order to help our industry move forward, we are seeking valuable input from infrastructure vendors. The feedback we receive will support future NGMN guidance and recommendations, with 6G remaining one of NGMN’s core areas of strategic focus.”
NGMN contributes operator-driven requirements to standards organisations (SDOs) and provides impactful industry guidance to enable innovative, sustainable and affordable mobile telecommunications services.
NGMN’s latest guidance can be downloaded here.
