The 6 GHz band has become one of the most strategic battlegrounds in European telecommunications. What might seem at first glance to be a technical matter—deciding which services will use certain radio frequencies—is, in reality, a high-stakes dispute among tech giants, mobile operators, equipment manufacturers, and regulators. The outcome will determine how millions of homes, offices, factories, and devices will connect in the next decade.
At the heart of the debate is the upper part of the 6 GHz band, the range from 6,425 to 7,125 MHz. Currently, in the European Union, only the lower portion (5,945–6,425 MHz) is license-exempt, used by the latest generations of Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7. The question is what to do with the rest: reserve it for licensed 5G/6G mobile networks, open it for Wi-Fi as well, or pursue a shared-use model.
What’s at stake: wide channels and limited spectrum
The importance of this band relates to a combination of physics and saturation. The usable radio spectrum is limited, but data traffic keeps growing—4K video, cloud gaming, augmented reality, industrial IoT, offices full of laptops and smartphones, and homes with dozens of connected devices.
In Europe, Wi-Fi in the 6 GHz band currently has only 480 MHz (5,945–6,425 MHz). Practically, this translates to:
- 12 usable 40 MHz channels
- or just 3 channels of 160 MHz
- or 2 overlapping 320 MHz channels designed to maximize Wi-Fi 7 performance
This means the band is already quite constrained in dense environments (apartment blocks, offices, campuses), precisely when the latest standards are designed to leverage increasingly wider channels.
This explains the industry’s interest in accessing the upper segment (6,425–7,125 MHz), as already happens in the U.S. and other countries where the entire 6 GHz band has been opened for license-free use.
Wi-Fi Alliance and DSA: “A Blow to Europe’s Digital Future”
In response to the possibility that the upper part of 6 GHz could be reserved exclusively for mobile networks, the Wi-Fi Alliance and the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA) have issued open letters to the EU digital ministers. They warn that excluding Wi-Fi from this band would risk Europe’s competitiveness and digitalization.
The core argument is straightforward: the vast majority of end-user internet traffic flows through Wi-Fi networks, not mobile networks. The mobile device connects to the router; from there, nearly all data travels over Wi-Fi within homes, offices, universities, factories, or hospitals. Limiting this technology’s growth potential, they argue, would strangle the innovation ecosystem supporting everything from telecommuting apps to cloud services and IoT devices.
The DSA sums it up sharply: blocking Wi-Fi access to the upper part of 6 GHz would be “devastating” for Wi-Fi’s future in Europe and would hinder the next wave of digital innovation.
Supporting these organizations are major tech companies like Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Broadcom, and Cisco, which have a clear interest in ensuring Wi-Fi has sufficient spectrum to keep growing.
Mobile operators push back: 6 GHz for 5G and future 6G
Mobile operators and network equipment manufacturers view the issue differently. For them, the upper part of 6 GHz is a key resource to expand capacity in current 5G networks and especially for future 6G deployments.
For example, Vodafone has already tested the upper 6 GHz band, achieving download speeds of up to 5 Gbps, and argues that this spectrum should be available to boost cellular capacity in high-demand urban areas.
Nokia and Telia carried out similar pilots in northern Europe, demonstrating that these frequencies can deliver “massive capacity” in densely populated areas, as well as improved coverage and performance in suburban or rural zones.
The support from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) reinforces this position: at the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23), the upper 6 GHz band was identified in Europe and other regions as a candidate for international mobile services (IMT), i.e., advanced 5G and 6G networks.
From this perspective, if Europe cedes the entire upper 6 GHz band to Wi-Fi, it will lose room to offer advanced mobile services—especially as users demand higher speeds and lower latency on the move.
The role of RSPG and Germany’s turn
The Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG), an advisory body to the European Commission, has been working for months on a “long-term opinion” about the use of the upper 6 GHz band. This document, still in development, will guide the Commission’s final decision on how to allocate the spectrum: exclusive mobile use, shared use, or expanding the license-free segment for Wi-Fi.
Until recently, the dominant idea in Brussels was to explore some form of sharing, following models similar to the British regulator Ofcom’s 2023 consultation: part of the band for license-free use (Wi-Fi) and part for mobile networks, with technical mechanisms to minimize interference.
However, the Wi-Fi industry fears that Germany has shifted its stance and is now pushing to reserve the upper 6 GHz band exclusively for mobile operators. A spokesperson from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport stated that, regarding future 6G applications, the spectrum needs of mobile networks are “greater” than those of Wi-Fi in this band—an assertion that has resonated strongly within the industry.
Given Germany’s influence in European discussions, such a shift could sway the RSPG’s decision and ultimately impact the Commission’s stance.
Practical consequences for citizens and businesses
Apart from the lobbying battles, the decision will have concrete effects.
If the upper 6 GHz band is reserved solely for mobile networks:
- Wi-Fi 7 in Europe will have less spectrum than in other markets like the U.S., potentially reducing capacity in high-density situations (apartment complexes, open-plan offices, university campuses).
- Router and access point manufacturers might release “restricted” products for Europe compared to other markets, complicating standardization and increasing costs.
- Businesses relying on high-capacity Wi-Fi (automated warehouses, factories, hospitals, educational centers) would have fewer options for deploying wide channels with low interference.
If, on the other hand, the band is fully opened for license-free use:
- Mobile operators would lose a key mid-to-high spectrum resource to expand 5G and deploy 6G, potentially forcing denser networks with more antennas, increasing costs and regulatory challenges.
- Europe risks falling out of alignment with some ITU decisions regarding bands identified for IMT, which operators see as strategic for equipment and device industries.
Many experts believe that some intermediate model—shared use or geographic/temporal segmentation supported by dynamic coordination techniques and databases—is almost inevitable, though these are more complex to implement and regulate.
Europe’s “digital sovereignty” versus Wi-Fi realities
An added element to the debate is the discourse on European “digital sovereignty.” The mobile industry argues that reserving valuable spectrum like the high 6 GHz band for cellular networks would strengthen Europe’s ability to develop its own 6G ecosystem and reduce reliance on decisions made elsewhere.
The Wi-Fi Alliance and DSA counter that, when it comes to digital sovereignty, we should consider how citizens and businesses actually connect: predominantly via Wi-Fi routers and access points manufactured, deployed, and managed by European or heavily European-presence companies. They believe that depriving Wi-Fi of additional spectrum in 6 GHz would be a costly mistake for Europe’s competitiveness.
Meanwhile, the clock is ticking. The RSPG continues working on its long-term opinion on the upper 6 GHz band, and the European Commission will need to make a decision that, in practice, will shape the balance between Wi-Fi and mobile networks over the next decade.
What now appears as a technical debate in Brussels will tomorrow translate into tangible impacts: Wi-Fi speed and reliability at home, mobile network capacity on the streets, and ultimately, how seamless Europeans’ digital experiences are.
Frequently Asked Questions about the 6 GHz band in Europe
What is the difference between the lower and upper parts of 6 GHz for Wi-Fi?
In the EU, the lower band (5,945–6,425 MHz) is already open for license-free use and is used by Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7. The upper band (6,425–7,125 MHz) is still unassigned, and the debate focuses on whether to reserve it for 5G/6G mobile networks, open it for Wi-Fi, or pursue a shared model.
How would it affect users if the upper 6 GHz band is allocated only to mobile networks?
Wi-Fi 7 in Europe would have less spectrum than in other markets, which could limit wide channel availability and increase congestion in dense scenarios. Users might experience more interference and reduced stability in heavily loaded Wi-Fi networks, though mobile 6G capacity would benefit.
Why do mobile operators want the 6 GHz band for 5G and 6G?
The 6 GHz band is considered a “sweet spot” spectrum: enough bandwidth for high speeds and better coverage than millimeter frequencies. It’s ideal for adding capacity in high-demand cities and for future 6G services, making it a strategic part of their spectrum plans.
When will the European Union decide the future of the upper 6 GHz band?
The RSPG is preparing a long-term opinion on the band, which will serve as the basis for the European Commission’s decision. No final date has been set, but guidelines are expected to be defined during the 2025 regulatory processes and beyond.