OCTOBER 2024
Concrete National Security
Benets of Spectrum
Allocation for Commercial 5G
Part 1: Trusted Supply Chain
By Clete Johnson
I
n an ongoing paper series, the CSIS Strategic Technologies Program has explored the national
security implications of spectrum allocation. The series argues that it is a national security
imperative for the United States to make spectrum available for licensed 5G and future-generation
wireless technologies to secure its position as the leader in trusted network technologies, especially
as autocracies, led by China, seek to dominate. As previous CSIS analysis has observed, China has
adopted an aggressive stratey to lead in technoloy, particularly 5G and future-generation networks
and applications. Since spectrum is critical to the future of the networks and applications that their
societies rely on, the security of the United States and its allies depends on leading and fostering trusted
partnerships in this arena.
Continuing with this area of focus, this two-part paper examines the concrete national security
impacts of commercial licensed spectrum availability: Below, Part 1 explores the reasons why spectrum
allocation for commercial 5G is indispensable for developing trusted technoloy. Part 2 will explore why
commercial spectrum is crucial to U.S. and allied military operations and capabilities.
Spectrum Availability and the Development of a Trusted Technoloy Supply
Chain
Commercial spectrum allocation is critical to the security of the United States and its allies, as it is
indispensable to the future of the networks and applications on which their societies depend. These
networks and applications will be designed either to advance the principles that support the United
