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UK opens upper 6GHz band to Wi-Fi and future 6G
Ofcom is opening the UK’s upper 6GHz band to Wi-Fi, with AFC enabling future sharing between Wi-Fi and 6G mobile services.
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Ofcom has approved the use of the upper 6GHz band for connectivity in the UK, a move intended to deliver faster Wi-Fi now and support mobile broadband in the 2030s.
The newly opened range runs from 6425MHz to 7125MHz. Wi-Fi will receive priority access to the lower 160MHz, from 6425MHz to 6585MHz, while the remaining spectrum, from 6585MHz to 7125MHz, will have non-prioritised access.
For now, the expanded allocation is available only for Wi-Fi. In the future, the larger shared section will also support mobile broadband, with mobile operators receiving priority access. Ofcom said the arrangement allows earlier use of the band by Wi-Fi while preserving the option for mobile network operators to introduce services later.
“Everybody 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 make this need a reality.”
How AFC will share the 6GHz spectrum
This is the first time mobile and Wi-Fi services will be permitted to share the same frequency band in this way. The system relies on Automated Frequency Coordination, or AFC, which Ofcom compares to air traffic control for wireless signals.
AFC is designed to coordinate access and reduce the risk of crossed signals and interference. In dense locations such as apartment blocks, offices and stadiums, the extra bandwidth should provide more capacity as large numbers of devices compete for connections.
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Ofcom also allows outdoor and higher-power use, but only when devices operate under the control of an AFC system. In rural or remote areas where 6G has not been deployed, the entire higher portion of the band could remain available for Wi-Fi.
The practical impact will depend on how AFC performs in signal-dense environments and how quickly compatible equipment becomes common. Routers need to support Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 to use the 6GHz spectrum, and connected devices need compatible support as well.
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Tomas lives in the terminal. He covers chips, laptops, and operating systems with a focus on performance and efficiency. He reads kernel changelogs the way other people read fiction, and he's always on the hunt for the perfect mechanical keyboard switch. If it processes data, Tomas has an opinion on it.
via TechRadar
