- Europe’s telecom leaders urge regulators to reserve the upper 6 GHz band exclusively for mobile use.
- Without this spectrum, Europe risks losing its competitive edge in the development of 6G technology.
What happened: Urging policymakers to act quickly on securing the full 6 GHz band for mobile use
Executives from major European telecom companies, including Orange, BT Group, and Vodafone, have formally requested that the full upper 6 GHz band be designated exclusively for mobile use in Europe. Their appeal to policymakers follows growing concerns that other regions, especially the United States, are making faster progress in securing this crucial spectrum. Telecom leaders argue that splitting the band or allowing unlicensed applications like Wi-Fi would severely limit the performance and scalability of future 6G networks. The 6 GHz spectrum is seen as pivotal for the next generation of mobile networks, and the signatories are adamant that Europe must act quickly to secure it in its entirety.
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Why it is important
The telecom operators argue that mobile technologies designed for the 6 GHz band require wide 200 MHz channels to function effectively, meaning any reduction in available spectrum would significantly hamper network performance and stifle the development of 6G technologies. Limiting access to this spectrum could also put Europe at a strategic disadvantage in the global race to develop next-generation networks. By failing to secure the full band, Europe risks a fragmented 6G ecosystem that would hinder its ability to capitalise on economies of scale, potentially affecting the continent’s long-term digital competitiveness. Furthermore, as mobile network traffic continues to grow rapidly, particularly in urban areas where saturation is expected by 2030, the operators stress the importance of opening up the upper 6 GHz band now to meet future demands and ensure robust digital infrastructure in the coming decades.
