A coalition of leading European telecom operators has issued a compelling appeal to EU policymakers, warning that the continent’s digital competitiveness rests on emergency access to the full 6 GHz band for mobile use.
With a global race to accelerate 6G networks, decisions on how to allocate this critical slice of this spectrum will determine whether Europe will remain the leader or delay in connectivity for the next generation.
Spanning Vodafone, BT, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica, 12 major network providers are seeking full allocation of the 6.425-7.125 GHz frequency range to mobile networks.
Operators argue that this is the only spectral block that is instantly suitable to provide large-capacity, high-speed 6G services throughout the continent.
They warn that without decisive action, Europe will bottleneck digital infrastructure, undermine future economic growth and risk losing control over its technological sovereignty.
The letter highlights the long-term consequences of spectral decisions made today, particularly as mobile traffic volumes are rising and existing spectral allocations are near the limit.
As Europe prepares for the next wave of digital transformation, the 6 GHz band emerged as an opportunity for make-or-breaking.
6 GHz Band: European 6G Future Rock
The top 6 GHz band is widely considered a key enabler for 6G networks, providing the bandwidth required for data-intensive applications such as augmented reality, smart industry, autonomous mobility, and digital health.
These use cases require adjacent blocks of large, adjacent midband spectra that can support both dense urban deployments and wide-ranging regional coverage.
Telecom experts believe 6G needs at least 600 MHz of spectrum to function efficiently. The Upper 6 GHz band is the only viable frequency range that meets this requirement in time for the expected commercial deployment by the end of the decade.
They argue that allocating less would make the first 6G implementation in Europe technically and economically unfeasible.
The narrow window of opportunity
The urgency behind the call comes from the rapidly increasing demand for mobile capabilities, particularly in European cities.
Telecom operators predict that urban networks could reach saturation by 2030, as data usage continues to grow from consumers and businesses. If spectral resources are not expanded soon, existing frequencies will be consumed only by 5G services and there is no room to launch 6G.
Policy bodies such as the Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG) are considering alternative options, such as new spectrum identification at the 2027 World Conference on Radiation and Communications (WRC-27).
However, due to strategic limitations, this pass rarely produces a timely result. This leaves the upper 6 GHz band as the only realistic route in Europe to launch 6G within the next five years.
Spectrum clashes with Wi-Fi advocates
The fight over the 6 GHz band is more than just technical. It’s also political. US technology companies are lobbying to open more bands for unauthorized Wi-Fi use.
However, European communications leaders have pointed out that nearly 500 MHz in the 6 GHz lower GHz band is already designated as Wi-Fi in Europe and is underutilized. They argue that expanding Wi-Fi to upper bands is unnecessary and detrimental to Europe’s long-term strategic interests.
Furthermore, carriers are also the leading provider of Wi-Fi services across the continent, and therefore dismiss the looming Wi-Fi spectrum shortage claims as unfounded.
European digital leadership is at stake
The call for action in the telecom industry is consistent with wider concerns about the decline in European influence on global technical standards and infrastructure.
Without access to the Upper 6 GHz band, Europe will rely on technology and standards set elsewhere, undermining its ability to shape the digital future in its own terms.
Supported by the 12 Chief Technology Officers of Europe’s most well-known telecom group, the message to EU decision makers is now acting to allocate an upper 6GHz band for mobile use or risk missing out on the 6G revolution.
The leadership window is rapidly closing, and the results of the delay could define Europe’s digital trajectory for decades to come.
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