By Claus Hetting, WiFi NOW CEO & Chairman
The upper portion of the 6 GHz band (specifically 6425-7125 MHz) remains contentious spectrum in Europe but now a broad coalition of major German stakeholders is ramping up the rhetoric in an attempt to secure the band for Wi-Fi. Some experts believe there is a risk that the European Commission may ultimately ignore such well-argued calls and instead surrender to purely political motivations, handing the entire 700 MHz of spectrum to the mobile industry. Here’s a breakdown of what’s been happening in German media.
While full-band 6 GHz Wi-Fi is largely old hat in North America and many other parts of the world, Europe is still undecided on what is to happen with the top half of the 6 GHz band. The issue is contentious because the European mobile industry is exceedingly powerful, holding a lot of sway with political decision makers across the continent. But now a broad coalition of German broadband service providers and other important stakeholders are speaking out emphatically and ramping up the battle.
According to a number of recent articles in German press, industry associations from the broadband, energy, and municipal sectors are calling for release of the full 6 GHz band to Wi-Fi – and they are now being supported by broadband operators such as Deutsche Giganetz, Deutsche Glasfaser, and others (read more here). A main argument (which is true) is that fibre deployments cannot be utilised to capacity unless the full 6 GHz band can be used for Wi-Fi within homes. They also argue that Europe will lose competitiveness if Wi-Fi is not permitted to operate within the full band.
Meanwhile the mobile industry argues that 6 GHz spectrum is needed for densification and capacity in urban areas although this would also mean that the use of this spectrum would likely never extend to homes outside these areas, Wi-Fi proponents say. A recent press release in support of 6 GHz for IMT – published by mobile operator Vodafone – has elicited a forceful response from German industry association BREKO (Federal Association for Broadband Communications) citing problems with mobile signal building penetration and upload speeds.
A person with detailed knowledge of the matter says that strong support from many industry associations and individual companies is good news for the future of the 6 GHz band in Europe – and therefore also for European businesses and consumers. He says to WiFi NOW that the debate needs to rage in public because many fear that in the end, a final regulatory decision could turn out to be strongly politically biased despite widespread support for Wi-Fi. He suspects that the European Commission and certain member states are pushing the RSPG to ignore responses to the recent public consultation in order to force a politically motivated pro-mobile decision.
Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG) is an independent panel of experts advising the European Commission on spectrum issues including the allocation of the upper 6 GHz band. Responses to the public consultation on the upper 6 GHz band have not been published although credible sources claim that the majority of the responses were strongly in favour of allocating the band to Wi-Fi.
/Claus.
