A growing spectrum tug-of-war between Wi-Fi advocates and mobile network operators is forcing the European Union to make tough decisions about how to future-proof its digital infrastructure. At the heart of the dispute lies the upper 6GHz band — a stretch of radio frequencies coveted by both sides as the key to meeting surging broadband demands.
On Wednesday, 58 internet providers and industry associations, led by the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance, issued a direct appeal to EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen. Their request: open the 6GHz band (6.425–7.125 GHz) for unrestricted Wi-Fi use. This plea positions Europe at the crossroads of a policy clash with telecom giants, who argue the same band should be reserved for the next generation of mobile networks, including 5G and 6G.
Dynamic Spectrum Alliance in its report said Europe is already behind other countries in adopting the latest Wi-Fi standards. This decision will allow Europe to finally roll out the (already existing) newest generations of Wi-Fi, 6E and 7, and the upcoming Wi-Fi 8.
The Stakes for Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is no longer just a convenience — it’s an essential infrastructure layer that powers everything from remote work and online education to smart homes and industrial IoT. The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance’s letter underscores this by warning that without more spectrum, European businesses could face higher costs and lose out on emerging technologies.
The concern is particularly acute given Europe’s lag in deploying advanced Wi-Fi standards compared to countries like the U.S., Canada, and South Korea, which have already opened up parts of the 6GHz band. Advocates argue that denying spectrum to Wi-Fi could stunt innovation, especially indoors where Wi-Fi handles the bulk of traffic.
The Telecom Operators’ Argument
On the other side, telecom operators claim that allocating the upper 6GHz band to Wi-Fi would be a missed opportunity to strengthen Europe’s 5G and 6G ecosystems. Earlier this month, a group of 12 telecom giants urged EU regulators to preserve the band for mobile networks, citing concerns over U.S. firms gaining a strategic advantage in the global race for wireless dominance, Reuters news report said.
Their argument hinges on the exclusivity of mobile spectrum: without clean, interference-free bands, operators argue, next-gen mobile networks will struggle to deliver the ultra-low latency and high throughput promised by 5G and 6G.
A Policy and Political Balancing Act
The EU Commission is expected to propose a Digital Networks Act in late 2025 to address the growing complexity of digital infrastructure planning. A key part of this will be spectrum coordination — an area where EU member states have traditionally acted with significant autonomy, often hindering continent-wide progress.
With the Radio Spectrum Policy Group set to meet on June 17, pressure is mounting for the Commission to define a clear path forward. A shared spectrum model, such as that proposed by Wi-Fi advocates, could serve as a compromise, but would require robust regulatory safeguards to avoid interference.
The Bigger Picture
This debate is more than a technical allocation issue — it reflects broader tensions in Europe’s digital strategy. Should the EU prioritize the mobile industry’s push for exclusive spectrum to bolster telecom-led innovation? Or should it lean toward open, shared models that democratize access and align more closely with user behavior?
As Dynamic Spectrum Alliance President Martha Suarez put it, “There is always hype about 5G, 6G, but we should not forget how users really connect to the internet.” That reminder may shape the decisions made in Brussels — not only on June 17 but well into the formulation of the Digital Networks Act.
Conclusion
The EU’s upcoming decisions on spectrum allocation will have ripple effects far beyond technical policy — they will shape the competitiveness of its tech sector, influence its strategic autonomy, and determine how everyday users experience the internet. Choosing between exclusive mobile networks and shared Wi-Fi access is not just a matter of bandwidth, but of vision.
Signatories to the proposal include: Digital Forge, Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA), East Cork Broadband, Eurona.ie, European Consumer Electronics Retail Council (EuCER), EWE TEL, Fibre Alliance Denmark, FMS Internet Service, FTTH Council Europe, Genexis Group, Grifonline Srl, High5!, HighSpeed, Integrated Media Services, Irish Wireless, Ivertec, Kerry Broadband, Lightnet Broadband, Link Broadband, Mayo Fibre Atlantek Computers, Munster Wireless, Netzkommune, Net1, OneContact, OpenBSD Amsterdam, Open SME Internet, Orion Communications, PMIT Solutions, Premier Broadband /Alphawave, RapidBroadband, RealBroadband, SCC Broadband, TIBUS, Titania, Total Wireless, Warian, Web World, Whizzy Internet, Wi-Fi Alliance, wilhelm.tel, and Wireless Connect.
TelecomLead.com News Desk
