- Ofcom now implements its proposal to use more 6GHz spectrum for Wi-Fi and mobile broadband
- The upper 6GHz band will be used for better performance in both cases, although it will be Wi-Fi only at first.
- 6G mobile telephony will be part of the recipe in the 2030s, and both Wi-Fi and 6G will be able to share the same frequency band thanks to Automated Frequency Coordination technology, which is similar to air traffic control.
Ofcom aims to increase Wi-Fi speeds in the UK and eventually mobile data too, opening up more 6GHz spectrum to facilitate this improved connectivity.
Until now, only the lower band of the 6GHz spectrum has been used, but after prior consultation, Ofcom has just given the green light to the use of the upper band, from 6425Mhz to 7125MHz. The idea is that Wi-Fi will have priority access to the lower 160MHz segment of this upper band (6425 to 6585MHz), with “non-priority access” to the rest (6585 to 7125MHz).
The idea is that most of the spectrum will be shared between Wi-Fi and mobile broadband, giving priority to the latter, although mobile telephony will not arrive until the 2030s. For now, only the Wi-Fi spectrum is being expanded in the UK. As Ofcom puts it: “This approach enables earlier use of the band over Wi-Fi whilst preserving the ability of mobile network operators (MNOs) to introduce mobile services in the future.”
Notably, this is the first time that both mobile and Wi-Fi services will be allowed to share the same frequency band, and this is facilitated by a technology known as AFC or Automated Frequency Coordination.
As Ofcom explains, this had not been possible before due to the risk of crossed signals and interference, but AFC, which is effectively like an “air traffic control” system for wireless signals, means bands can now be shared in this way.
David Willis, group director of spectrum at Ofcom, commented: “Everyone in the UK wants faster Wi-Fi and better mobile performance. Our decision today will allow mobile and Wi-Fi services to share the airwaves in the future, helping to realize this need.”
Note that a router must support Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 to take advantage of the 6 GHz spectrum, and of course the devices you want to use on the wireless network must also be compatible.
Analysis: a flexible solution
This move is therefore creating more bandwidth, and therefore more breathing room, for wireless signals in the UK, starting with Wi-Fi and paving the way for next-generation 6G mobile connections in the future.
The end result will be faster performance and higher capacity in dense environments where many devices are trying to take over bandwidth, such as apartment blocks, offices or stadiums. Ofcom notes that in the latter cases: “Outdoor and higher power use is also permitted, but only where the devices operate under the control of an automated frequency coordination (AFC) system.”
The shared approach that AFC uses makes sense in terms of giving Wi-Fi users and mobile network operators a piece of the pie, and gives a lot of flexibility in implementation. In remote or rural areas, for example, where 6G is not deployed, the entire upper part of the spectrum will always be available for Wi-Fi use.
Of course, the proof will be in the pudding with the launch in busier areas and how AFC actually performs in signal-heavy environments.
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