South Africa is almost at the end of a battle for 5G spectrum that has been years in the making. Earlier this year ICASA hosted a successful spectrum auction and barring further delays, the outlook is good.

Across the pond, however, there is a spectrum fight brewing between SpaceX’s Starlink and Dish Network.

The problem relates to the 12GHz spectrum band. This band is currently used by SpaceX to provide connectivity on the ground. However, Dish Network is trying to open this spectrum up for both satellite use and 5G mobile. This, SpaceX claims, would render its service unusable.

To that end, SpaceX has published its own analysis of the matter in which it found that there was interference on its network with a 5G network in play. The claim is that Starlink networks will fully fail 74 percent of the time should 5G networks be running in the same band.

“The effect of this harmful interference will extend to a minimum of 21 kilometers from the macro base station even for best-case far-sidelobe to far-sidelobe coupling in unobstructed conditions,” SpaceX wrote in its analysis.

However, as CNN points out, the 5Gfor12GHz Coalition has highlighted a study carried out by independent firm which shows that 99.85 percent of Starlink customers would experience no harmful interference from 5G.

However, SpaceX is reportedly taking this fight to the Federal Communications Commission with CNBC reporting it has called on the body to investigate the matter.

All of this does not bode well for countries which may already be operating 5G networks or other services in the 12GHz band hoping for Starlink access.