- Ofcom is now implementing its proposal to use more 6GHz spectrum for Wi-Fi and mobile broadband
- The upper band of 6GHz will be used for better performance in both cases, though it'll be Wi-Fi only to start with
- 6G mobile 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 tech, which is likened to air traffic control
Ofcom is aiming to boost Wi-Fi speeds in the UK, and eventually mobile data too, by opening more of the 6GHz spectrum to facilitate this improved connectivity.
Thus far, only the lower band of the 6GHz spectrum has been used, but following a previous consultation, Ofcom just greenlit the use of the upper band, from 6425Mhz to 7125MHz. The idea is that Wi-Fi will get priority access to the bottom 160MHz slice of this upper band (6425 to 6585MHz), with "non-prioritised access" to the rest (6585 to 7125MHz).
The idea is that the bigger chunk of the spectrum will be shared between Wi-Fi and mobile broadband, with the latter getting priority — although mobile won't happen until the 2030s. For now, only the Wi-Fi spectrum is being expanded in the UK. As Ofcom puts it: "This approach allows earlier use of the band by Wi-Fi while 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 share the same frequency band, and this is facilitated by a technology known as AFC or Automated Frequency Coordination.
As Ofcom explains, this hasn't been possible before because of the risk of crossed signals and interference therein, but AFC — which is effectively like an 'air traffic control' system for wireless signals — means that bands can now be shared in this way.
David Willis, Group Director for Spectrum at Ofcom, commented: "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."
Note that a router must support Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 to tap the 6GHz spectrum, and of course the devices you wish to use on the wireless network must as well.
Analysis: a flexible solution
So, this move is bringing in more bandwidth, and therefore more breathing room, for wireless signals in the UK, starting with Wi-Fi and paving the way for next-gen 6G mobile connections down the road.
The end result will be faster performance and a greater capacity in dense environments where a lot of devices are trying to grab 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 devices operate under the control of an Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) system."
The sharing approach using AFC makes sense in terms of giving both Wi-Fi users and mobile network operators a slice of the pie, and it lends a good deal of flexibility to the implementation. In remote or rural areas, for example, where 6G isn't deployed, the entire higher part of the spectrum will always be available for Wi-Fi usage.
Of course, the proof will be in the pudding with the rollout in busier areas, and how AFC actually works in signal-dense environments.
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