WLAN Gets Priority: Digital Minister Wildberger to Secure 6 GHz Band for WLAN

In the current frequency dispute, which has been simmering for years, not only associations from the broadband, energy, and municipal sectors but also renowned companies such as Deutsche Giganetz, Deutsche Glasfaser, EWE TEL, Fritz, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Lancom, and NetCologne now see the performance of fiber optic networks and Europe's competitiveness endangered. In a letter of appeal to Federal Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger (CDU), which heise online has obtained, they are calling for the entire upper 6 GHz band (6425 – 7125 MHz) to be released for license-free WLAN use. Mobile network operators, on the other hand, are claiming this valuable spectrum for 5G & Co.

The signatories emphatically urge Wildberger to firmly anchor Germany's position in the Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG) in favor of future security before the pivotal decision on the allocation of the contested frequency band, which is due in November. The RSPG is the frequency advisory body of the EU Commission. The companies and associations demand a long-term benefit analysis. This spectrum is crucial for utilizing the full performance of the fiber optic networks built in Germany at great expense. If the upper 6 GHz band were allocated to mobile communications, this potential would be lost.

In Germany today, the vast majority of data traffic already occurs via fixed-line connections and WLAN. Around 90 percent is handled this way, which also significantly relieves mobile networks through so-called offloading. Continuous technological WLAN advancements, especially with the Wi-Fi 7 standard, enable the use of user channels up to 320 MHz wide. These are indispensable for innovative and bandwidth-intensive applications such as Augmented or Virtual Reality, for example, for electronic health services, industrial use, or for controlling the energy system, according to the companies that signed the letter.

Mobile Communications Focused on Populated Areas?

According to the loose alliance, the coveted spectrum is the last remaining band that can be meaningfully used for WLAN and indoor coverage. It offers ideal conditions to become the primary carrier of data traffic in homes and offices within a few years. A joint use of the upper 6 GHz band by WLAN and mobile communications would not be technically sensible, as the applications would interfere with each other.

Mobile network operators justify their request with an acute need for bandwidth in densely populated urban areas. The authors of the letter question this and suspect that the use of the upper 6 GHz band by mobile communications would most likely be limited to metropolitan areas. This would lead to the valuable frequency resource not being used at all or being used ineffectively in large parts, especially in rural areas. WLAN, on the other hand, already offers comprehensive coverage today and makes an indispensable contribution to the digital society.

From an economic perspective, shifting data traffic to mobile networks is inefficient, it is further stated. The optimal use of fiber optic networks requires maximum transmission speed and the lowest possible latency on the last meters via WLAN.

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