“Ofcom pioneers sharing of upper 6 GHz spectrum between mobile and Wi-Fi services“
I think this is an important opportunity for as many people as possible to write to Ofcom and express their horror at the increases in electrosmog, quoting as much science evidence as you can, arguing for a different approach rather than a one solution fits all.
Even if you agree with the ‘need’ for internet access for everything and everyone, each requirement will be different.There are huge differences. You don’t need the same connection or capacity to hold a conversation over a phone call as is needed for machine-to-machine interactions; nor the same data volume as for (so-called) Artificial Intelligence – nor the same hardware, nor the same security as for spying (GCHQ), war and crime.
So when they write about bringing “advanced, high-quality Wi-Fi to university campuses, hospitals, railway stations, industrial complexes and sports stadiums” what thought (analysis) are they bringing to the issues? Safety and health seem to be missed out unless it’s buried deep in the papers, and if it is in there should be right out front.
Notice also that there are no definitions for anything. “Benefits to the economy”? What and for whom? What are the values of “virtual and augmented reality”? Undoubtedly there may be some genuinely valuable ‘use cases’ but for a small subset of a population.
“Under the proposals” they write but I can see no actual “proposals”. Not in a functional way.
What are these “improved services”? etc etc
It all seems like so much speculation rather than ‘what problems are we trying to solve‘
Here is the announcement:
“Ofcom has today published proposals (go here for the full paper; IRJ) for upper 6 GHz spectrum to be made available and shared between mobile and Wi-Fi services. The UK is spearheading efforts to explore the sharing of upper 6 GHz by these two different technologies, which should bring benefits to the economy, and has also been promoting this approach internationally.
This new spectrum would provide a large increase in capacity for both mobile and Wi-Fi services, laying the foundations for future generations of data-hungry technologies, such as virtual and augmented reality, and AI.
In a boost for the economy, it would also help mobile and Wi-Fi providers to deliver improved services to more customers, especially where demand is greatest. It would support advanced Wi-Fi for homes, businesses and industry, and enable mobile networks to better serve their customers, particularly in the most crowded places like high streets or stadiums.
Sharing the band should provide greater overall benefits to the UK, helping both services cope with the increase in traffic volumes, and create further opportunities for innovation, growth and investment.
Under the proposals, mobile and Wi-Fi technology would need to integrate better in the future, for example with mechanisms where Wi-Fi would ‘sense’ the presence of a mobile network and react, leading to better services overall.
For the upper part of the band (6425-7125 MHz), we propose that the spectrum be shared between providers of commercial mobile and Wi-Fi services. We would do this in two phases:
Phase 1: allow low power indoor Wi-Fi across the whole of the Upper 6 GHz band as quickly as possible, ideally before the end of 2025.
Phase 2: also authorise mobile to use the band, linked to the outcome of discussions at a European level on harmonising how the band is used, which we expect to finish by 2027.
European harmonisation would see sharing of 6 GHz by mobile and Wi-Fi across the continent, and will help manufacturers, operators, and users have the confidence to invest in equipment and services for the band, which we are keen to encourage.
Separately, in the lower part of the 6 GHz band (5925-6425 MHz), we are also proposing to allow outdoor and higher power Wi-Fi to operate under the control of an automated database to protect other users from interference. At present, Wi-Fi in this band is limited to low power indoor use only.
This change would help bring advanced, high-quality Wi-Fi to university campuses, hospitals, railway stations, industrial complexes and sports stadiums, as well as typical broadband services to rural customers.
We are consulting on our proposals and welcome feedback by 8 May 2025.”
Responding to this consultation
Please submit responses using the response form (ODT, 101.21 KB) no later than 5pm 8 May 2025.
Send the downloaded form to:
Upper 6 GHz Project Team
Ofcom
Riverside House
2A Southwark Bridge Road
London SE1 9HA
or email: sharingupper6ghz@ofcom.org.uk