Wi-Fi industry clashes with mobile operators over additional EU spectrum
May 21 (Reuters) - A group of 58 internet providers and industry associations urged EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen on Wednesday to free up additional spectrum for Wi-Fi services, setting up a clash with operators seeking the same frequencies for mobile networks.
In a letter seen by Reuters, global advocacy group Dynamic Spectrum Alliance called on the European Commission to make the upper 6GHz band available for "unrestrained" Wi-Fi operations.
Wi-Fi provides internet access to users but also enables various household devices to connect to networks, including televisions, home appliances and industrial sensors.
As consumer demand for high-speed connectivity rises, service providers are looking to expand network capacity, eyeing valuable radio spectrum.
Without additional Wi-Fi spectrum, European businesses could face higher costs and restricted access to new technologies, making them less competitive globally, the group said in the letter.
"Europe is already behind other countries in adopting the latest Wi-Fi standards," it said.
Earlier this month, 12 major telecoms operators urged EU regulators to reserve the same spectrum for 5G and 6G mobile networks, highlighting concerns over U.S. firms seeking more spectrum in Europe.
While European countries have been more cautious in their approach, the U.S., Canada, South Korea and several other countries have already allocated portions of the 6GHz band for Wi-Fi use.
The Wi-Fi community advocates a shared approach to spectrum compared with mobile operators who seek exclusive access, said Martha Suarez, president of the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance.
"Most of the traffic in Europe is indoors. And most of it starts or ends by a Wi-Fi connection. There is always a hype about 5G, 6G, but we should not forget how really users connect to the internet," Suarez told Reuters.
The EU Commission is expected, opens new tab to propose a legislative package, the Digital Networks Act, in late 2025, aiming to address connectivity challenges, including a more coordinated approach to spectrum policy across member states.
The Radio Spectrum Policy Group, which assists the Commission in developing spectrum policy, is scheduled to meet on June 17.
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