In case you missed it – Dean Bubley, a tech industry expert and founder of Disruptive Analysis, wrote a new column for Defense Opinion explaining why spectrum sharing – rather than exclusive licensing – in the lower 3 GHz band will be vital to U.S. plans for an ‘iron’ or ‘golden’ dome missile defense system. 

“[T]he immediate focus should be on dynamic sharing and coexistence between federal users and other tenants where possible. Even without the new Iron Dome initiative, the lower 3GHz band should be maintained for DoD use, with appropriate sharing if it can be made sufficiently dynamic. Adding in additional missile defense requirements makes any rush to reallocate some or all of the band appear foolhardy,” wrote Bubley. 

As the founder of Disruptive Analysis, Dean Bubley has been writing about numerous issues in the telecom space, including spectrum, for two decades. 

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Spectrum Reallocation Could Impede Plans for ‘Golden Dome’

Defense Opinion

By: Dean Bubley, founder & director of Disruptive Analysis

May 5, 2025

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) currently uses the 3.1-3.45 GHz spectrum band for radar and missile defense systems. However, the government is discussing future uses for this band, either for new forms of spectrum sharing or as a target for clearance and auction for commercial mobile use. 

The highly contentious debate hinges on whether the U.S. should clear and auction these bands for full power 5G expansion by major carriers. But several recent developments — including a Jan. 23 congressional hearing on spectrum policy and President Trump’s executive order calling for an “Iron Dome” missile defense shield for the U.S., (otherwise known as a Golden Dome) — should lead policymakers to rethink the wisdom or feasibility of clearing a “pipeline” from this critical band for 5G expansion.

Read Dean’s full column in Defense Opinion.