Associations: 6 GHz band must be free for WLAN to secure the digital future

Industry associations from the broadband, energy and municipal sectors are appealing to the EU Commission and its frequency advisory body, the Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG), to release the entire upper 6 GHz band (6425 – 7125 MHz) for license-free use, particularly by WLAN. They stress that this step is crucial to fully exploit the benefits of fiber networks and to achieve the objectives of the EU Digital Strategy.

Only the allocation of the entire upper 6 GHz band will enable modern Wi-Fi technologies such as Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7, write Breko, BDEW and VKU in a joint paper on the draft for a long-term vision for the coveted spectrum. At least one, but ideally several contiguous 320 MHz channels are required for the full performance of Wi-Fi 7. The entire 1200 MHz spectrum of the 6 GHz band (5925 – 7125 MHz) offers the necessary bandwidth for these high-performance, non-overlapping channels, the position paper states. Fragmentation of the band or limited allocation would significantly impair the performance of these technologies and reduce the benefits of fiber optic networks.

Data consumption in Germany is increasing by an average of 21% per year, it continues. By 2023, 98% of data traffic would already be transmitted via fixed networks. This underlines the growing importance of stable and powerful Wi-Fi connections. In contrast, mobile communications only account for two percent of data traffic in Germany, the associations emphasize in a press release. Nevertheless, large mobile network providers want to secure the valuable upper 6 GHz band exclusively for 5G & Co. This would be "nonsensical": the spectrum affected by the "tangible frequency dispute" is extremely unsuitable for mobile communications due to its short range, high transmission rates and low building penetration – but all the more so for Wi-Fi.

USA, Japan & Co. have forged ahead

According to the submission, unrestricted access to the upper 6 GHz band would strengthen infrastructure-based competition with Deutsche Telekom and promote innovation without creating additional regulatory or financial burdens. The aim is to promote a diverse broadband market. Leading digital nations such as the USA, Japan, South Korea and Canada have already released the entire 6 GHz band for license-free use. The EU risks falling behind in terms of digital competitiveness and sovereignty if it does not follow this example.

In addition to the economic and technological benefits, the associations emphasize that Wi-Fi offers significant advantages in terms of energy efficiency and sustainability compared to mobile networks. The promotion of Wi-Fi through access to license-free spectrum would reduce the energy consumption of digital infrastructures and also contribute to achieving the EU's climate and environmental goals.

As early as 2023, a broad alliance of network operators, hardware manufacturers and associations urged the EU states in the run-up to the World Radio Conference in Dubai at the time not to reserve the entire 6 GHz band for mobile communications and instead make it freely available for Wi-Fi. Network equipment supplier Lancom backed up this call shortly afterward. To unleash the full potential of wireless internet and keep pace globally, the EU must act. In 2021, the Commission already paved the way for the license-free use of the lower 6 GHz band by fast wireless internet. This is the range between 5945 and 6425 MHz.

(mack)