58 Firms Urge EU to Unlock Full 6GHz Band for Wi-Fi
A coalition of 58 leading companies and associations, including the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance, has publicly urged European policymakers to open the entire 6GHz band (6.425–7.125GHz) for unlicensed use. The group’s letter, addressed to EU Executive Vice President Henna Virkkunen, highlights the risk that failure to act could “undermine Europe’s digital competitiveness and the effectiveness of its fibre investments”.
The case for Wi-Fi: Enabling digital transformation
The coalition’s message is clear: Wi-Fi is a critical enabler of affordable, high-speed indoor connectivity, supporting a broad range of applications from industrial IoT and smart logistics to remote healthcare.
The signatories warn, “Without additional Wi-Fi spectrum, European businesses will be less globally competitive due to higher wireless connectivity costs and less access to new technologies”.
The collective highlights that Wi-Fi is integral to business and is essential public infrastructure.
The letter states, “Essential infrastructures and services, such as hospitals and universities, rely heavily on Wi-Fi to continue advancing the well-being of patients or students’ learning opportunities.” The coalition cautions, “Going in the wrong direction on upper 6GHz will stunt the development of new applications across these use cases”.
Europe’s competitive challenge
The coalition argues that Europe is already falling behind other regions deploying the latest Wi-Fi standards, including Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7. According to the letter, “Europe is already lagging behind other nations in implementing the latest Wi-Fi standards.”
The group contends that full unlicensed access to the upper 6GHz band is essential for the widespread rollout of Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 7 and eventually Wi-Fi 8.
The signatories include Vincent Garnier, Director General of the FTTH Council Europe, All Digital CEO David Mekkaoui, Real Broadband Solutions co-founder Denise Diggin and 55 other industry representatives.
Their unified message is: “We have one simple request for the EU: make the upper 6GHz band (6.425–7.125GHz) available for unrestrained Wi-Fi operations.”
Complementing fibre and 5G investments
The coalition stresses that opening the band to Wi-Fi would complement, not compete with, existing investments in fibre, 5G and satellite networks. “Ultimately, the Digital Networks Act, the review of the European Electronic Communications Code and the 2030 Digital Decade targets will be key in fulfilling Europe’s promise of competitiveness and becoming an AI continent.
"In the pursuit, we transmit to you the industry’s view: Wi-Fi matters”.
Telecom operators: A competing vision
The call for unlicensed access brings the Wi-Fi coalition into direct conflict with major European telecom operators, including Orange, Vodafone and BT Group. The telcos have recently lobbied regulators to reserve the entire upper 6GHz band for licensed mobile use, arguing that this is necessary to support the rollout of 6G technology.
Telecom operators warn that sharing the band with unlicensed technologies could “fragment the global 6G ecosystem and jeopardise Europe’s digital competitiveness”. Their position reflects concerns about spectrum scarcity and the need for harmonised resources to maintain Europe’s leadership in mobile innovation.
Regulatory landscape and next steps
The European Commission’s Radio Spectrum Policy Group is currently reviewing how to allocate the upper 6GHz band, with both Wi-Fi advocates and telco operators vying for access. The outcome will have significant implications for the future of wireless connectivity across the continent.
Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, is pioneering a phased approach. It will initially allow low-power indoor Wi-Fi across the entire upper 6GHz band, with potential future authorisation for mobile use depending on European harmonisation outcomes.
The approach aims to balance the interests of both Wi-Fi and mobile stakeholders while encouraging investment and innovation.
The debate over the upper 6GHz band is a defining moment for Europe’s digital infrastructure. As the coalition clearly states, “Wi-Fi matters.” The decision will shape the continent’s ability to deliver next-generation connectivity, support advanced applications and remain competitive in the global digital economy.
The industry now awaits the European Commission’s next steps, as allocating the upper 6GHz band will determine whether Europe can fully realise its digital ambitions.
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