3625 MHz Band – What is it used for?

The 3625 MHz band falls within the 3.5 GHz band, specifically within the 3550โ€“3700 MHz range known as the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) in the United States.

๐Ÿ“ก What is the 3625 MHz Band Used For?

The 3625 MHz frequency is part of the CBRS band, and it’s used for:

๐Ÿข Private LTE and 5G Networks

  • Enterprises, factories, schools, and campuses use the 3625 MHz band to build private cellular networks for secure, high-speed connectivity.
  • Ideal for IoT, industrial automation, and smart building solutions.

๐Ÿ™๏ธ Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs)

  • Many WISPs use this band to offer fixed wireless access (FWA), especially in rural or underserved areas.

๐Ÿ“ถ Mobile Network Operator Offloading

  • Carriers can use CBRS spectrum like 3625 MHz to offload traffic from congested licensed spectrum.

๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ Government and Military Incumbents

  • The U.S. Navy and other federal incumbents have priority access in certain regions, especially near coastal areas.

๐Ÿ” Spectrum Access Tiers (USA CBRS Framework)

The 3625 MHz band operates under a unique three-tiered licensing model managed by a Spectrum Access System (SAS):

TierDescription
Incumbent AccessProtected federal/military systems
Priority Access License (PAL)Auctioned spectrum with priority use
General Authorized Access (GAA)Unlicensed, opportunistic use

๐ŸŒ International Use

Outside the U.S., the 3625 MHz frequency is often part of mid-band 5G allocations:

  • ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ Europe: Falls within the 3.4โ€“3.8 GHz band for 5G NR
  • ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ Canada: Being studied for future 5G deployments
  • ๐ŸŒ Globally: Recognized by the ITU for IMT (5G mobile broadband)