In case you missed it – Dean Bubley, founder and director of Disruptive Analysis, published an essay in RCR Wireless News questioning cellular industry claims that “5G network slicing” is a viable alternative to spectrum-sharing or the deployment of private networks. As Congress considers changes to how critical spectrum is deployed as part of budget reconciliation negotiations in Washington, Bubley emphasizes the value of maintaining shared access, particularly for military use.
“5G network slicing is an interesting technology, with various military and enterprise use-cases on both commercial and private networks – but it does not change the debate over spectrum allocation,” wrote Bubley. “In particular, you cannot use slicing to accommodate radar or other non-cellular wireless systems in the same frequencies; that needs more advanced forms of spectrum-sharing or coexistence mechanisms.”
Bubley is the founder and director of Disruptive Analysis with over 25 years of experience advising and speaking in the telecoms industry.
###
Slicing Is Not a Replacement for Spectrum Sharing
RCR Wireless
Dean Bubley, Founder of Disruptive Analysis
June 24, 2025
Some wireless industry commentators have suggested that “5G network slicing” is a viable alternative to either spectrum-sharing or the deployment of private (dedicated) networks by enterprises or other organizations. Network slicing, so the misconceived argument goes, should therefore allow for more high-power, wide-area spectrum to be cleared of its current users and made available for mobile carriers via auction.
In reality, 5G slicing has severe constraints on its capabilities, maturity and usefulness.
It cannot replace shared-spectrum models such as the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) which blends commercial wireless and defense/federal bands, nor enable the creation of substitutes for proper, independent private 4G/5G networks.
It also cannot be used to offer “frequency segments” suitable for military systems – a claim based on misunderstood international examples of wireless deployments and slicing.
Read the rest of Dean’s column on RCR Wireless.
###